Teen suffered head injury from assault after stepping in to help protect friend

17-year-old taken to RAH following attack in park

A 17-year-old boy suffered a concussion when he was battered in a Paisley park as he protected his pal from a gang of thugs.

The brave teenager stepped in to help his friend, also aged 17, who was being attacked by a group of violent youths in Saucelhill Park.

But the lad ended-up sustaining a serious head injury and was rushed to the Royal Alexandra Hospital.

It’s understood the violent group first set about a 17-year-old before his friend tried to intervene and they turned their attention on him.

Cops probing the shocking assault, which happened at around 7.50pm on Sunday, said it may be linked to an earlier incident in the same area.

A group of teenagers racially abused a woman and threw bottles in her direction after she challenged them over the noise they were making.

She was unhurt in the incident, which happened at around 6.30pm on Sunday.

Police are now appealing for witnesses to both incidents to come forward.

Inspector Tracy Harkins, deputy area commander for Renfrewshire said: “This was a nasty assault which left the teenage victim with a head injury.

“It appears he had gone to the aid of his friend who was also assaulted.

“We are appealing to anyone who may have been in the area at the time and witnessed what happened to come forward to police.

“If you have private space CCTV covering the area then please get in touch.”

She added: “Earlier the same evening there was an incident which we think may be linked whereby a woman was racially abused and items were thrown at her. Again, if you saw or heard this incident, please get in touch with officers.

“We will be carrying out additional patrols in and around the Saucelhill Park area in the coming weeks and we would encourage members of the public to report anti social behaviour to police.”

Ex p ress Readers wi t h information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

This was a nasty assault which left the teenage victim with a head injury