THIS is the commuter police want to speak to after a man and his dog were attacked near Basingstoke railway station.

The assault took place on a footpath by the Great Western Cottages, South View, between 5.45am and 6am on Friday, August 22.

The 58-year-old victim was walking his dog along the footpath, towards the Norden Close allotments, when another man passed him and appeared to kick out at the dog.

The victim challenged him, and the attacker started to walk away, only to turn back and punch the man twice in the head. The 58-year-old needed hospital treatment for a large cut.

Officers have now released a photograph of a man they would like to speak to about the assault.

He is described as white, aged around 40, with short, grey hair. He wore a blue suit jacket and a light coloured shirt, and carried a black, padded laptop bag over his right shoulder.

PC Tom Bailey said: “We believe the suspect is a commuter en route to town or to Basingstoke train station. If you recognise him from the CCTV image please call us on 101.”