A man needed to have his jaw reinforced with titanium bolts after a serious assault in Dundee city centre.
Details of the attack only emerged after the victim sought treatment to mend his badly broken bone.
The 37-year-old was with friends when they passed a group of young men and were shouted at.
Police say one of the group a male in his late teens to early 20s assaulted the man, knocking him over.
The victim was able to get up and walk away, but was then chased and attacked again in Reform Street near Costa Coffee and McDonald’s.
He fell on the road and, while on the floor, was seriously assaulted.
His attacker walked away, leaving him bleeding from the mouth, minus a tooth and what he subsequently found out was a badly broken jaw.
The attack happened some time between 2pm and 3pm on Wednesday, September 4.
A police spokesman said: “The victim did not contact that emergency services immediately after the incident and it was only days later, when the pain became intolerable, that he attended at Ninewells Hospital where the extent of his injuries were confirmed.
“Following surgery, he contacted Police Scotland.”
The suspect, who has brown hair, was part of a group of men all believed to be in their late teens to early 20s.
The area was busy with passers-by and police are asking any witnesses to contact them on 101 or speak to an officer.