COUNCILLOR Ben Cooper was the victim of an unprovoked assault outside a pub during regatta. He was punched and blacked out for 10 minutes after banging his head when he fell to the ground. Police are treating the incident as a homophobic attack. Cllr Cooper, who represents the Townstal ward and is the only Labour representative on South Hams Council, was taken to Torbay Hospital by ambulance after the incident outside the Dolphin pub in Market Street during the early hours of Saturday morning. After his release from hospital, he posted on Twitter: 'Whoever punched me in the jaw for being gay, you're pathetic. 'Got a sore jaw, chipped tooth and killer headache, but I'm ok.' Cllr Cooper said he didn't remember much about the incident but was grateful to everyone who came to his aid. 'After a night out with friends and family, I was waiting to walk home when the assault occurred,' he told the Chronicle. 'I banged my head hard when I hit the floor after I was punched. 'I was knocked out for several minutes and have no recollection of the incident myself. 'So I would like to say a big thank you again to those who were there on the night, the medical teams, police, friends and passers-by. 'Also, thanks to those who have sent me messages since and have offered their support. I've had a few days off work and am feeling a little better, so am looking forward to being back down Alfs very soon.' Cllr Cooper added that such incidents highlighted why events such as this weekend's Totnes Pride were necessary. 'No one should be targeted and called names for who they are,' he said. Sgt Rob Tansley, Dartmouth police neighbourhood team leader, said it was a 'nasty, silly, completely unprovoked incident'. He said it happened about 1am when the offender came out of a public house and shouted an insult before punching Cllr Cooper in the face. A man was arrested and, at the request of Cllr Cooper, has been dealt with by restorative justice. Police said there were a number of drink-related incidents during regatta but no major trouble and generally people were well behaved. Sgt Tansley said there were fewer incidents than last year and the trend had improved with the regatta committee organising security staff and licensed premises manning their own doors to help police under pressure. 'But next year officers would like to see less alcohol on the streets, particularly in the evenings when there is a different atmosphere to daytime, when we tend to me more relaxed,' he said. 'We are working with publicans to encourage drinkers to stay in licensed premises, rather than allowing them to wander out on to the streets,' he said. During regatta, police dealt with four assaults, two incidents of being drunk and disorderly and a burglary to an outside bar when a padlock was forced an a iPod Touch and alcohol stolen on Friday night. A man was also found in possession of cannabis and there were two incidents of criminal damage and three thefts. These included wallets reported missing from pockets and an outboard motor worth £300 stolen on Tuesday from a dinghy in Kingswear. Many lost purses and wallets were also handed into police. The incidents of actual bodily harm occurred on Friday and Saturday evening in the main street and were all alcohol related, say police. Inquiries are either continuing or suspects have been arrested and cautioned.