A MAN was 'slashed' and punched in the face on an Abingdon footpath by someone trying to steal his mobile phone.

At around 12.40am on Thursday the man, who is in his early thirties, was walking along the footpath between Drayton Road and Hermitage Road.

As he approached the Hermitage Road end of the footpath, he took his phone out his pocket.

At this point a man, described as being 5ft 9 ins tall, slim build and wearing a dark coloured hooded top, approached and tried snatch the phone.

The pair struggled, and the victim was punched in the face and struck with an object.

He managed to get away, only then realising he had been slashed in the face and arm from a 'sharp implement' during the attack.

He did not require hospital treatment and nothing was taken during the attempted robbery.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Richard Whitcombe, of Local CID based at Abingdon police station, said: “We are appealing for information following this incident in which a man received injuries.

“We are carrying out a number of lines of enquiry but would ask anyone who may have seen this incident or has any other information to please come forward.

“We would ask anyone with information to please call 101 quoting the reference 43180310475 or you can go online to provide information on our website.”