Boy, 14, has jaw broken in unprovoked park attack
Thugs on motorised bikes attacked a schoolboy, breaking his jaw, because he ‘looked at them funny’.
His shocked mother has joined police in appealing for witnesses to the unprovoked assault in Northycote Farm and Country Park, Wolverhampton, earlier this month.
Her son, who has just turned 14, was walking in the park with a friend on Saturday, September 16, at about 3.20pm when a group of youngsters on motorised bikes passed them.
Two of the riders, who were lagging behind the group, stopped and approached the pair, said 32-year-old Tenesse Williams, of The Scotlands.
“One of them got off his bike and told my son to apologise," she said.
"He said ‘What for?’ and was told ‘For looking at me funny’.
"My son looked away and was then punched in the jaw.
"My son pushed the boy away and they went off.
"He rang asking me to make him a dentist appointment but he’s a proud person and wouldn’t say why.
"Much later I found out what had happened.”
Doctors revealed his jaw was fractured in two places. One of his front teeth had also been twisted around by the impact. He has spent the last week off school recovering.
Mrs Williams, who has also had to take time off from her job as the manager of a therapy services charity in Sandwell, said the episode had been distressing for both of them.
"My son is a lovely boy, always friendly and cheerful and seeing the best in people," she said.
"This was a completely random act of mindless violence.
"It comes to something if you can’t take a walk in the park on a Saturday afternoon without fear of having your jaw broken.
“I’m devastated that not just my child but all our children are vulnerable to this sort of vicious attack in their own area, and in the daytime.
“The attack was witnessed by lots of people and we’re hoping that they will come forward and tell people what they saw. We all have a part to play in keeping our neighbourhoods safe.”
She added that the other boys on bikes came back and asked her son if he was okay. Adults also went to his aid and offered to give him a lift home.
Police are investigating the attack.
One of the boys is described as mixed race, around 4ft 11ins tall, aged around 12 to 13 of skinny build.
The second boy is believed to be white, around 5ft 1in tall and was wearing a black and white helmet.
Call police on 101.
Officers are conducting regular patrols of the area, although no arrests have been made. Anyone with information is urged to called police on 101, quoting 20WV/200029Q/17.
