Horrifying footage has emerged of a young boy, 12, being beaten up for a '£5 bet' just mere minutes after schools broke up for half-term.
Distressed mum Jodie Willows has asked for the short clip of her son Mason Willows to be published, as he was attacked as he walked out of the gates of a school.
The video showcases an 'oblivious' Mason being approached by a student outside Discovery Academy in Bentilee, Stoke-on-Trent Live writes.
School student Mason states that he was then punched to the side of his head before two older boys joined in on the attack as he lashed out in self-defence.
At one point, he was left sprawled across the ground before teachers stepped in to split them up.
Astonishingly, several young by-standers can be seen filming the scrap in Discovery Drive as they egged on those involved. The footage was then shared on social media over the weekend.
Police are now investigating the incident, which happened at 2.45pm last Friday (February 18).
Mason, from Bentilee, has since been told that he was attacked by the boy for a £5 dare.
He said: "At first I was really confused. I came out of school and there was a group of kids with their phones filming me so it must have been planned.
"I was asking what was going on and that's when it all started.
"He punched me in the head but it wasn't that bad. Two older lads then joined in.
"Luckily they didn't really hurt me except my knee's a bit sore from where I fell over.
"It was all over really quickly, maybe 30 seconds. It just seemed completely random.
"I had no idea why he did it. I think he was just trying to show off in front of his mates.
"I'm glad the police are involved and I hope they get a caution. They've not really scared me but it could be really bad for another kid. It's not right what they did."
Mum-of-three Jodie Willows first I knew about the fight when she got a phone call from the school..
The 31-year-old said: "I don't drive and a teacher even offered to take home. Thankfully I was able to arrange for someone to pick him up.
"When he came in he had a slight split lip but luckily he wasn't badly hurt.
"It was obviously planned as the video was recording beforehand.
"My child had no clue to what was going on and tried to shake the boy's hand to avoid it going any further. You can tell he had no idea what was going on, he was completely oblivious.
"My son even stepped back but the boy continued and punched him in the face.
"And then because my child defended himself a few other lads jumped on him.
"I am absolutely mortified that this got recorded. They are to blame as much as the lads attacking Mason.
"I want the video out there to show that bullying is not OK. It's physically knocked me sick."
Jodie has praised the school for its handing of the incident.
She added: "He's never in trouble. The main lad was his age but the others were a bit older.
"Thankfully within seconds the teachers were there to break it up.
"It's been reported to the police and the school will do an investigation.
"Mason's fine, but he just doesn't want this to happen to anyone else. It's upset me more than him.
"We've never had an issue with the school before, the teachers are great. I'd hate to have to pull him out. The teachers dealt with it brilliantly."
A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: "Officers are investigating a report of an assault which took place on Discovery Drive in Bentilee on Friday, February 18.
"We are aware of footage circulating on social media of the incident, but ask any witnesses or anyone with any information to get in touch with police."
Anyone with information is asked to call 101, or report online, quoting incident number 177 of February 20.
Stoke-on-Trent Live has approached the Discovery Academy for a statement.
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