A GWENT teenager was set upon and beaten up in broad daylight - for his mobile telephone.

Nash College student Matthew Jones, 17, was walking along Corp-oration Road, Newport, at 4.30pm on Friday when the incident happened.

Matthew was on his way home to St Vincent Road when he was approached by a gang of nine white youths, aged between ten and 20.

The gang said they wanted to use his mobile telephone, but when Matthew refused he was set upon and was punched and kicked.

Matthew, who is hoping to join the Royal Marines, claimed motorists and passers-by did not stop to help him.

He managed to make it into a shop and asked staff there if they would help him by calling the police. But he claims they refused.

Then the student was set upon again as he left the shop, and the gang managed to steal his mobile phone.

Matthew suffered a bruised cheekbone, bruised ribs, black eye and cuts and a footprint above his eye in the attack. He was treated at the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, for his injuries and later discharged.

His sister Jennifer, 16, said: "It is so terrible. The street was full of people who could have helped him or called the police."

Liswerry councillor Joan Jepps was shocked to hear of the incident. She said: "I am concerned, especially because it was in broad daylight. It is unusual. I have never heard of anything like this happening here before.

"There are a lot of youths around there, but I have never heard of anyone being beaten up like this in that area in broad daylight.

"I think somebody should have called the police."

Police are now investigating the incident, and anyone with any information is asked to contact Maindee CID on 01633 246999.