POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a disturbing attack on an 11-year-old boy in Flood Meadows last Friday evening.
The attack happened at around 5 pm as the boy walked from the Amery Hill area, along Tanhouse Lane and into Flood Meadows. The boy was around three-quarters of the way along Tanhouse Lane when he heard footsteps behind him, but he thought nothing of it and did not bother to look round.
He then turned into Flood Meadows and followed the lower path. When he was adjacent to the second footpath spur on the left, he was grabbed from behind.
The boyÕs assailant turned the boyÕs arm up into his back and applied upward pressure, resulting in a rear arm lock. The boy stamped on the attackerÕs foot and managed to break the hold, and ran home where he told his parents and the police were called.
Because the assailant approached from behind and the boy did not look back when running away, only a very brief description of the attacker was given to police.
He was an adult man wearing white trainers and grey trousers.
Police have since conducted a house-to-house enquiry in the Tanhouse Lane area, and have positioned posters around the entrances to Flood Meadows. Since the route is a popular cut-through for pupils at Amery Hill School, the school has been notified.
Police are appealing to anyone who saw anything suspicious going on in the area either before or after the attack.
The investigating officer, Dc Nik Henshaw of Alton CID, said: ÒThis area of the town is not very well lit, and if local children are going to continue to use it as a cut-through, then they should either be accompanied or they should take a good look around before entering the area.
ÒWe can speculate forever about what the motive was, but the bottom line is that we donÕt know. It is fair to say however that the attack could have had the potential to develop into something a lot more serious.Ó
Anyone with information on the crime can contact Dc Henshaw on 0845 045 45 45, or anonymously via the Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.