Police are seeking information from the public after a teenager was the victim of a "prolonged and violent assault" in Edgecumbe earlier this week.
The attacker has been described as a man aged between his 30s and 40s and of large build.
The incident took place at Riverslea Mall near the toilets on late Tuesday afternoon, Senior Sergeant Tristan Murray said.
"A boy in his mid-teens, who was with another group of boys, had been subject to a prolonged and violent assault which left him with serious injuries.