‘Head-stomp’ attack on teen at bus stop

The father of a 16-year-old girl who alleges her head was stomped on and that she was held at knifepoint at a Lower Hutt bus stop says greater safety measures need to be taken to protect other children.

Hayden Ward of Lower Hutt says his daughter, whom Stuff has agreed not to name for her personal safety, was viciously assaulted while she was waiting for a bus home on Bunny St, outside Queensgate Mall on Sunday evening.

A large group by the bus stop, ranging in age from about 10 to 25, had snatched her phone and were taunting her, ‘‘egging her on’’, he said.

‘‘She chased down the one who had her phone and put him in a headlock. Then he pulled out a knife and he scratched her arm with it.

It was a minor injury, he said.

‘‘They pushed her down on the ground and started all punching and kicking and stomping on her.’’

Ward claimed at least one of them stomped on her head, leaving her groggy.

Police confirmed they were investigating and it is understood they have video footage of the incident and were reviewing this.

Ward said although police responded quickly, he wanted to see greater surveillance at the spot – a known hub for antisocial and truant behaviour. After a post on social media his partner was contacted by multiple other parents with similar stories about the bus stop.

Another Lower Hutt parent, Sarah, said her daughter was with a group of Year 8 girls at the bus stop in 2020 when one of them was punched in the face.

Her daughter, who was 11 at the time, was with two friends heading to the mall.

The girls ‘‘made eye contact’’ with a group of four girls and two boys nearby, but did not provoke them, Sarah said.

‘‘They came over and thumped her [friend], saying why are you giggling at us, why are you looking over here, y’know, effing and blinding.’’

Her daughter and friend fled into the mall, but the larger group chased them into Farmers where security intervened, Sarah said.

Her husband met the girls and was threatened by one of the alleged troublemakers, Sarah said. Police were told but Sarah understood no action was taken.

Her daughter wouldn’t go to the mall for a year after the incident, she said.