THE Mayor of the small Spanish town where Bournemouth roofer Stephen Mallon was attacked nearly two weeks ago says he believes the critically injured man was caught up in an “isolated incident” of fighting between teenagers.

Former priest Jose Luis Torres Guitierrez has been visiting Mr Mallon’s family twice a day while he remains deeply unconscious in the Carlos Haya Hospital in Malaga.

Mr Mallon received head injuries after allegedly being hurled over a balcony in the picturesque village of Competa on June 4. He went into a coma after arriving at the hospital and has been in the intensive care unit ever since.

According to Mr Mallon’s wife Teresa, her husband and twin sons were set upon by a gang of 30 men outside La Estrella pub because they are British.

Reports that Mr Mallon was thrown from a balcony remain unconfirmed.

The family was due to be interviewed yesterday morning by the Judicial Police as part on their ongoing inquiries into the incident.

In his first media interview since the incident, Mr Torres said: “The police will send an official report with regards to what happened that day. Spanish justice needs to take time to investigate exactly what happened and cannot make a decision until they have interviewed all the witnesses.

“From my point of view this is an isolated incident between teenagers in our town.

“It was just a fight between teenagers with a horrible and unfortunate end.

“In Competa we have had foreign residences and holidaymakers for the last 35 years and today people from 36 different nationalities live a happy and secure life in our town.

“I am really concerned because our image has been damaged so badly.

“Our town is a really welcoming, peaceful place. However, this isolated incident marks us all.”