A formerly confident Leeds teen is "scared" to leave his house after being "repeatedly attacked" by a group of yobs.
The 14-year-old who is a resident in Farnley, has been left with two black eyes, bruising to the head, and stripped of his self confidence after being allegedly targeted by the group. On Friday, March 15, he was hanging out with a group of five friends in a woodland area near his home, before things took a turn.
His mum Paula said a group of 20 teens were walking towards her son and friends with an "aggressive" dog before walking up to the young lad and "punching him".
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"My lad and his friends were just chilling. They were tapping on this metal pole and the gang told them to 'shut up as it's scaring the dog'," she said.
"He then told me that one lad went over to him pulled him by his clothes and punched him in the throat. The guy with dog asked how old he is and he said '14' and he suddenly backed off. But then, this one lad came up behind him in a balaclava and hit him on the head.
"It's really dangerous to do this. Then one of them punched him in the stomach - for his diabetes he has a device on his stomach - he could have been seriously hurt."
Paula added that she thinks her son was attacked in the group as he is six feet tall, whereas his friends "look a lot younger". "I think other lads think he is about 17 and hanging out with people younger than him but he's only 14", she added.
The teen has suffered minor injuries from the incident but his mum said his nose is swollen and the marks on his face are noticeable when he goes to school.
And this isn't the first time he claims to have been targeted by the group; back in March, he ran after them when they stole his backpack containing his house keys and EpiPen he needs for his diabetes. Paula added: "He was robbed just outside of Farnley Park entrance.
"They took his bag which has his medication in and his key. It was by three boys in all black with their hoods up. He managed to chase them and get his bag back but his key was still missing."
His mum said that he was the type of person who loves the outdoors and would come home from school and play out all evening. "He will only go out for an hour or so now but he says he is scared to go out for longer," Paula said.
Paula added she is "sick" of the alleged perpetrators behaviour and said they "rule the roost" in Farnley. She reported the incidents to West Yorkshire Police, but said her son's friends will not come forward as witnesses because they are "scared it will backfire".
She added: "The sad part is I know one of the lads who did this - he lives across the road from us. He used to be such a good lad when he was younger and he's clearly just got into the wrong crowd - it's sad."
Leeds Live has contacted West Yorkshire Police for further information.
