Schoolboy left with broken jaw and rib after brutal assault

A 14-year-old boy has been left with a broken jaw, collarbone, rib and finger following a ‘brutal’ assault.

Detectives are appealing for information after the teenager was seriously injured in the ‘unprovoked’ attack in broad daylight.

The youngster was with two friends when they were approached by a group of youths in Milngavie, Dunbartonshire.

They launched the attack in a lane between McDonald’s and Sports Direct, near Milngavie Road on Saturday at 4.45pm.

The boy fell to the ground before he was punched and kicked in the head and body. He eventually managed to run towards a nearby Premier Inn where a member of the public came to his aid.

A passer-by took the boy to Milngavie police station and he was admitted to the city’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital for treatment for his injuries. He was later allowed home.

Officers have described the suspects as white males aged 14-16 years, one wearing a white T-shirt and dark shorts, one in a grey jumper and shorts and one dressed all in white.

The group are thought to have been playing football in a nearby park prior to the assault.

Detective Sergeant Colin MacRitchie said: ‘This appears to have been a brutal and unprovoked attack and inquiries are ongoing to trace the individuals involved.

‘This incident happened in broad daylight near a busy main road and I would appeal to anyone who may have witnessed a disturbance.’

Elsewhere, a man was yesterday in a ‘stable’ condition in hospital after surviving a murder attempt when a car was driven at him.

The 31-year-old avoided being hit by the vehicle but was then attacked by two men who were in the vehicle on Nitshill Road, Glasgow, on Saturday.

The man was with two friends outside a bookmakers at 5pm when a black Peugeot car was deliberately driven towards him. He managed to get out of the way as the car collided with the wall of the bookmakers but two men then attacked him with weapons before driving off.

The injured man was taken by ambulance to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

The car was found partially burnt out in Maybole Street, Nitshill.

The incident is not thought to be linked to any other recent attacks in the city.

Detective Sergeant Dougie Stevenson said: ‘While we believe the man involved was the intended target, for this to happen in the middle of the day, and in a busy spot, was very brazen of the suspects.

‘We have managed to speak to those involved and officers are checking CCTV.’