Harry, 13, threatened by ‘knife gang’ after school
Mum in plea for help in hunt for masked youths
MUM-OF-THREE Sue Lancaster has spoken of her horror after her son was threatened with a knife on his way back from school.
Thirteen-year-old Harry Lancaster was almost home when two masked youths approached him in a side road in Leek.
Sue said the youths pulled out a knife and Harry was twice punched in the face. She is now appealing for help to catch the people responsible for the attack, which happened just off Junction Road on Tuesday afternoon.
Sue, of Junction Road, said: “Harry came in from school and didn’t speak to me, which was really unusual. Eventually he told me he had been threatened with a knife about 50 metres away from our house.
“They were waiting at the top of the walkway for him. It was around 4.15pm.
“They pulled a knife out on him and punched him twice in the face, then they ran off. He was distraught.”
Sue believes Harry, who attends Westwood College, was personally targeted by the youths and that the incident is linked to a previous attack on him a few months ago.
She said: “Harry is no trouble whatsoever, he’s a good boy,” she said. “I could understand if he was involved with a bad group of people but he keeps himself to himself and he’s got a good group of friends at school.
“My other children are 12 and nine, and this happened right near our house. It’s frightening.
“People don’t want to get involved nowadays, but these youths need to be punished for what they’ve done. It is totally unprovoked - it could happen to anyone. It could have been a lot worse.
“I would ask anyone who can help to please contact the police.”
The youths responsible have been described as aged 17 or 18, 5ft 6in or 5ft 7in tall, one wearing a grey tracksuit and the other a black tracksuit. Both had their faces covered by beanie hats with holes cut out for their eyes.
After Sue appealed for information on Facebook she was told that youths matching her description had been spotted on Southbank Street and later at Leek Bus Station.
The incident has been reported to Staffordshire, who have appealed for anyone with information to come forward. A spokesman said: “Officers from Staffordshire Police were called to reports of a 13-year-old boy being threatened with a knife by two boys on Junction Road, Leek, at 4.39pm on Tuesday.
“The victim was not injured. The investigation is on-going.”
Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting incident number 541 of October 16.