Pregnant woman is punched by boy of 7

A PREGNANT woman was punched by a seven-year- old boy in the street for a dare after he was goaded by friends, police said yesterday.

the victim, who was 20 weeks pregnant, was walking home along a busy road when she passed three boys, aged seven to ten.

the seven-year- old then punched her in the back after his friends jeered: ‘Go and thump her.’

the mother-to-be appeared to be unharmed but was monitored in hospital yesterday to check the health of her unborn child.

Although police have found the boys, they will only receive a tellingoff because the one who hit the woman was under ten – the age of criminal responsibility – while the others had not committed a crime.

Greater Manchester Police said yesterday that the woman was attacked at 4pm in Blackley.

Inspector Chris Hadfield added: ‘they are three very young children and it looks as though the ten-yearold has goaded the seven-year- old, telling him to “Go and thump her”.

‘then as the lady carried on walking, he has punched her in the back before they all ran away.

‘We have yet to interview the victim, but as she was 20 weeks pregnant, she is likely to have a bump, which on top of the age of the boys involved makes this particularly shocking.

‘this incident clearly demonstrates concern over parenting and the importance of knowing what your children are up to.’

In a post on the force Facebook page, officers wrote: ‘ three youths approximately between seven to ten years old were standing on Rochdale Road as the female was walking past.

‘One of the youths goaded the seven year old to hit her; he then punched her in her back. the youths have been identified, expect a visit!’

the news was met with disgust and shock from other Facebook users.

Officers later added some advice to young people on how to avoid being led astray by peer pressure.

In another post, they wrote: ‘People are often influenced to do things by people around them; but peer pressure can lead you in trouble.’ It advised

‘Concern over parenting’

youngsters to choose their friends ‘wisely’, forming friendships with those who have ‘the same values’.

the post added: ‘Having one friend who’ll back you up when you want to go against the group will help. Be strong: just go with what you know is right. stand up for what you believe in and you’ll respect yourself more too.’

In the past four years, 5,665 crimes were committed in Britain by children aged eight and under, with the majority spoken to about criminal damage or vandalism. But 35 were rapes and almost 1,000 were violent crimes.

Children under ten cannot be charged with a criminal offence but they can be given a curfew or even taken into care.