A man in his 40s was taken to hospital with head and face injuries after an unprovoked assault in Wimborne last night.
The incident, involving male teenagers, happened outside the Co-op in Crown Mead at about 6.40pm.
Police attended and spoke to the victim but the teenagers had left the scene.
Police Constable Mia Jakeman, of East Dorset police, said: “This was a nasty unprovoked assault on a vulnerable man and an investigation is being carried out into the circumstances.
“I am appealing to anyone who saw what happened, or has information about those involved, to please contact Dorset Police.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55240018714.