James Johnston scratched across the neck with a blade on Church Street in Shirley

James Johnston has described the moment the group attacked him on his way home from a house party in the middle of the night.

The 22-year-old journalism student from Millbrook left a party in Ridding Close, Shirley.

While his friends went home in a taxi, James walked home down Church Street.

He was then approached by several men in their late teens and early 20s.

James told the Echo: “Nine youths approached me and asked if I had spare change and cigarettes.

“Then, without warning, they punched me on both sides of the face and put their hands in my lower and outer coat pockets trying to empty them.

“After putting my hands up on guard, I then felt something on my neck, it was a jagged-edged knife.”

James suffered an injured neck from the knife, swelling on both cheeks and a cut inside his left cheek. (from them punching his cheek against his teeth)

The group then left the scene.

James’ friends later returned to the scene on Church Street and took him home in the early hours of Saturday.

James added: “I was surprised at the speed of how it all changed from them asking me civilly to then resorting to violence.

“It has made me change the way I see the area I grew up in.”

He described the men as being in their late teens to mid 20s, mostly slim and with local accents.

A Hampshire police spokesperson said: “We received a report regarding an assault on a 22-year-old man, from Southampton, which happened on Church Street, between 12.50am and 1.30am on Saturday.

“The victim reported being approached by a group of men who asked him for spare change and cigarettes.

“When the victim said he had neither, he was assaulted but did not require medical treatment.

“Investigations are ongoing and no arrests have been made at this time.”

Anybody with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting the crime reference number 44180063171.

Alternatively contact the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.