AN ASSAULT victim who spent more than two weeks in hospital being treated for his injuries has been surviving on handouts for the past three months.

Lionel Haakanson still needs crutches five months after the attack, which resulted in 19-year-old Liam Meager being jailed for more than five years.

Not long after he came out of the Great Western Hospital he found his Universal Credit benefit payment had been cut to just over £200.

It was the last one he received and in April he said he was told his claim had been closed.

Some weeks later, with the help of a support worker he managed to begin a new claim, but it has been held up because he has to verify his identity and has had difficulty in attending appointments with officials from the Department for Work and Pensions.

Mr Haakanson, of Pewsham Road, Penhill, who used to be able to earn some money doing a paper round and cutting people’s lawns for them, is still suffering from mobility problems and is unable to drive.

His rent is being paid but he said he had been getting by on credit and loans from friends and family as well as donations of food over the past few weeks.

“My mum has been helping me out for a little while. She is giving me little bits of food,” he said.

He has also been given food vouchers by the Red Cross to keep him going.

Mr Haakanson suffered a broken knee in the attack on February 26 outside the Deer’s Leap pub and it was 18 days before he was released from hospital.

CCTV footage captured Meager punching him half a dozen times, kicking him when he fell to the ground and then banging his head on the ground repeatedly.

Meager, of Beech Avenue, pleaded guilty to assault causing grievous bodily harm and was jailed by a judge at Swindon Crown Court last month.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, had told the court: "You can see Mr Haakanson trying to defend himself, trying to stop the attack.

"He says Mr Meager said to him at one point 'I am going to break your leg'. His leg was down and outstretched and he dropped himself down on his leg saying 'I am going to break you leg' and he began to bounce a couple of times.

"That is at the point on the CCTV where he is being dragged along. He is also shouting 'let me go'.

"He said he felt his ribs go, he is not sure if it was when he was punched or kicked."

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: “We are speaking to Mr Haakanson to process his claim as soon as possible. 

“We encourage people to stay in contact and provide the information we need as soon as they can, to ensure claims are processed quickly.”