Autistic boy beaten up by armed yobs
KEBAB TAKEAWAY STAFF DESCRIBE HOW A GANG WITH ‘BATS’ ATTACKED TEENAGER, 14
STAFF at a kebab house where a teenager with autism was brutally attacked outside have described how they ran to protect him.
The 14 year-old was set upon close to Denton Kebab House in the Crown Point area of the town on Saturday night.
He had to be taken to hospital after the attack shortly after 9:30pm.
Staff at the takeaway, who know the boy well, said he was set upon by a gang of people, who they believed to be adults, two of whom were carrying bats.
And they say they are all shocked and appalled at what had happened.
Shazad Bashir, 43, told the M.E.N: “It’s a disgrace. We know the boy and his dad, they are regular customers.
“It all happened so quick. We saw him coming then the next minute we could hear screaming. There were lots of guys. I’d say eight or nine of them. At least two of them had bats.
“Three or four of us ran out, and they stopped then. We brought him inside and kept him there while we rang the ambulance. We have no idea what it was all about.”
The boy, whose family did not want him to be named, has recently been diagnosed with autism and started at a new special school in September.
He spent the night in hospital on Saturday undergoing x-rays and scans before being released on Sunday, and suffered no permanent damage.
However his dad, John Horsfall, said he has been left with broken teeth, as well as lacerations on his neck, back and arms and has been traumatised.
Police officers have visited the kebab shop and neighbouring shops and businesses to source CCTV footage
The crime sparked outrage amongst local residents and M.E.N. readers after we reported the incident.
Yesterday, the chief constable of GMP Ian Hopkins tweeted: “This is exactly the sort of appalling crime we do prioritise because of the vulnerability of the victim.
“Lots of work already done over the weekend with witnesses, CCTV and scenes of crime.”
Mr Horsfall says he believes his son had nipped out for a burger when the attack happened but has no memory of the incident.
He said: “He is at home recovering now.
“Thankfully his injuries weren’t life threatening and no permanent damage has been done, other than his teeth which were smashed.
“I have no idea what’s happened or why it has happened and I just know he ended up in hospital. He has no memory of it.
“I just want answers and whoever has done this needs to be caught as they are obviously very dangerous.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact GMP on 101.