A 23-year-old man has been charged in connection with an assault in a Stevenage alleyway which left the victim requiring surgery after being hit on the head and repeatedly stabbed.

Munyaradazi Matengenzara, of Jessop Road in the town, has been charged with GBH – wounding with intent, after a 21-year-old man was assaulted in an alleyway in Archer Road, close to the shops, at about 12.15am on Friday.

It is believed he was struck on the head by a group of men and stabbed a number of times in what is thought to have been a targeted attack.

The man’s injuries were not believed to be life threatening but required surgery, a spokeswoman said on the afternoon of the assault.

Mr Matengenxara has appeared before Hatfield Remand Court and has been released on conditional bail.

Anyone with information should contact DI Chris Treadwell via the Herts police non-emergency number 101 or report information online at www.herts.police.uk/report quoting crime reference E1/17/10428.

Alternatively, you can contact the independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through their anonymous online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information cannot be traced or recorded and you will never need to go to court.