AN angry father is appealing for witnesses to come forward after his 13-year-old son was viciously assaulted in Harwich.

Oliver Olivagi, of Albert Street, is appealing for information after his son was punched in the face in the unprovoked attack.

Julian Olivagi had spent the day cycling with his friend, but sought shelter when heavy rain began to fall.

He stood under a shop front and the pair called for the friend’s mother to pick them up.

As they walked to the car, a man emerged from the dark and punched Julian in the mouth without warning.

The attack happened in Market Street at around 7.30pm on Friday.

Mr Olivagi said: “When I found out I was so angry I couldn’t even talk.

“I couldn’t understand why a fully-grown man would attack a child.

“He has still got a cut on his lower lip and he was very shaken.

“It was unprovoked. They weren’t expecting anything like that to happen and it all happened so quickly.”

Mr Olivagi said the assailant is white, in his fifties, about 5ft 5ins with short grey hair.

He is described as “shaggy looking”, was wearing blue adidas tracksuit bottoms and was carrying a dark backpack.

Mr Olivagi said: “The police are out looking for him, but there is no news as of yet.

“If anyone has seen or knows this man, please inform police or message me so I can inform the police.

“This man is dangerous and could hurt more kids out there in the streets.

“I hope the man will get identified or be caught soon before he attacks again.

“I have never heard of anything like this happening around here.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said an investigation is underway.

He said: “The victim, a 13-year-old boy, was standing with a friend down a side street near Main Road.

“A man nearby was staring at them, before running towards them and punching the victim to the face, causing a cut to his lip.”

Anyone with information can call PC Steven Baldwin at Harwich Police on 101.