BROKE: Nicholas Beattie is still on crutches after being beaten up. A car he bought turned out to be stolen but when he went to police the seller’s associates beat him up on two occasions, and he was advised to leave town.

A man who unwittingly bought a stolen car is homeless and jobless after being forced to flee violent retribution by gang members.

Nicholas Beattie was badly beaten with a steel bar in Hawke's Bay in December after going to police about the car. He was in hospital until Christmas.

His alleged attacker has been charged but police advised Mr Beattie to flee town after he was targeted by other gangsters.

He is now in the South Island, living with his ex-partner and baby. He is still on crutches and is being cared for by his former partner, but cannot get financial assistance from either ACC or Work and Income.

Mr Beattie, who has no gang connections, has also been denied witness protection by police, who have refused to comment on the case.

He said Work and Income continued to class him as being in a relationship, despite separating from his girlfriend several months before their baby was born. "We're living together because we need to for our safety, and we have a young baby together," he said.

Because they live together, his ex-girlfriend does not qualify for the domestic purposes benefit, and their sickness benefit income is less.

Victim Support paid for their flights from Auckland to the South Island, and Mr Beattie said police had helped as much as they could.

"I find it difficult to believe, living in New Zealand, that I can't receive the assistance I need to pay my bills and support my child when I'm a victim of a crime," he said.

"This isn't my ex-girlfriend and baby's fault, and now they're tied up in it as well and have left everything behind and we're in a complete mess."

Mr Beattie said they had lived in holiday camps, stayed with family and slept at the Salvation Army. They now had no other options left.

"I've never been on a benefit before this and have always worked, and now I can't get any help when I really need it."

ACC spokeswoman Stephanie Melville said Mr Beattie had lodged a claim for attendant care, including back-payment.

"We contacted him on March 26, requesting additional information, including the hours of attendant care provided to date and the amount Mr Beattie has paid for this. As soon as the requested information is received, we will be able to fully consider his request."

Mr Beattie said it had taken months to be told exactly what he needed to provide and he had no financial assistance to tide him over while he waited for his ACC claim to be processed.

A Work and Income spokesman said it would not comment on Mr Beattie unless he emailed a privacy waiver allowing it to discuss his case. "However, we have reviewed this case internally and we are satisfied that we have done the right thing by this individual."