A young man suffered a broken jaw after being set upon in an unproked attack in Front Street, Hamilton, this morning.

The 23-year-old was enjoying a night out with friends when he was assaulted outside Cafe Cairo around 3.20 a.m after refusing his attacker’s request for a cigarette.

“I walked away towards my bike but he hit me from behind and I went down to the ground. Then he kicked me in the face,” said the victim, from Paget, who did not want his name published.

He was knocked unconcious, and can only remember the lead-up to the assault and that he did not recognise his assailant.

“I was totally oblivious. I was walking away from the whole confrontation,” he said.

The victim was still being treated in hospital as he spoke to The Royal Gazette, and was not yet sure of the extent of his injuries.

Police arrested a man in Court Street for the attack within minutes of it occurring, and yesterday appealed for witnesses to contact them on 295-0011.