The men are accused of attacking a 20-year-old victim, leaving him for dead on Rouse St in the weeks leading up to Christmas. The victim sustained a fractured cheekbone, jaw and eye socket and was airlifted to hospital for surgery following the December 14 incident.

New England crime manager Detective Inspector Ann Joy said the victim was walking when he was approached by two other men, before a physical altercation ensued.

“He was left in an unconscious state on the footpath as those two males ran from the scene,” she said.

“His wallet and the contents were also stolen from him.”

Police were called to the scene after witnesses found the man lying unconscious on the footpath.

“He was treated by ambulance paramedics and conveyed to Tenterfield hospital, then later flown to a Brisbane hospital where he had surgery in relation to his injuries,” Detective Inspector Joy said.

Detectives canvassed the area, spoke to witnesses and obtained nearby CCTV footage as part of an exhaustive investigation to track down the men responsible.

Police made in-roads when they arrested a 20-year-old local man and charged him with one count of aggravated robbery and maliciously inflict grievous bodily harm.

Detective Inspector Joy said detectives made a breakthrough this week when they traced a second offender to a Glen Innes home.

“The second male is a 22-year-old from Tenterfield and he was arrested in Glen Innes,” she said.

“It was a serious assault.

“We believe the victim is out of hospital recovering now,  but he still needs ongoing treatment.”

Detectives are still appealing for any witnesses who are yet to come forward to contact Glen Innes police or Crime Stoppers.

Both men appeared in out-of-sessions bail hearings where they were refused bail to reappear later this month.