An Aberdeen mother has claimed her 10-year-old son is too “petrified” to leave the house after he was attacked near his home while a number of young people allegedly recorded the assault on their mobile phones.
Jamie Wood was assaulted by a group of older youths on Thursday night, in Mastrick, while walking home from Hazlehead Swimming Pool at around 8.15pm.
He was later taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where he was treated for facial injuries.
Speaking yesterday, the boy’s mother, Natalie Wood said the incident has left her son fearful to go outside.
Ms Wood said around 20 to 30 young people witnessed her son’s attack and hit out at those who recorded her son being beaten.
She said two girls had run to the family home to inform them what was happening.
Ms Wood said: “My partner and my daughter Stacey ran round to find him and he had to carry Jamie back home.
“Nothing like this has ever happened before, this was an unprovoked attack. It is quite a nice area we live in.
“It’s a bit of a ridiculous situation where your kids can’t come home from swimming without being attacked by other kids, especially ones so much older.
“Jamie does look a lot older than 10 but that doesn’t make any difference, they should never have had to go through that.
“There were 20 or 30 kids there just standing, videoing it happening, and for what? Both boys could have been killed.”
Ms Wood said her son was still in shock and that she had been emotional about her son being injured.
Ms Wood, who lives on Ronaldsay Square, claimed the Kingsford Primary pupil had rushed to help his friend after he was attacked by a group of four boys, aged around 14.
The group, she claimed, then turned their attention to Jamie and attacked him, kicking and punching him as he lay on the ground.
The boy was left with a black-eye, swollen jaw and gash under his left eye.
Ms Wood says her son had been going to Muay Thai kickboxing classes, but was too scared to defend himself.
Inspector Kevin Wallace said the disturbance involved around 15 youths, male and female, believed to be aged between 10 and 14.
He added that initial enquiries indicated that a number of smaller incidents then broke out in the local area.
The officer said: “We are currently responding to a number of reports from members of the public regarding these incidents and would appeal for any witnesses to contact us on 101.
“Enquiries are at an early stage and as yet no one has been arrested or charged.
“Incidents of this nature are rare and we would urge the public to pass on any information and allow us to investigate.”