A boy was forced to run to McDonald's after a gang of teenage thugs attacked him and tried to steal his bike .
The boy, who the ECHO has chosen not to name, was biking at the pump track in Wallasey Central Park on Sunday, June 5 when he was approached by a gang of older girls and boys. The older teenagers swore at and attacked the 13-year-old forcing him to flee on his bike to Liscard town centre.
The boy tried to find a shop to find refuge from the attack but as it was a Sunday night all shops were closed. One of the older teens from the gang riding an electric scooter followed him and punched him the face and tried to steal his bike.
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The boy only managed to get away from the attack by running into McDonald's where a quick-thinking security guard stopped the gang of teens. The boy's mum Natalia told the ECHO "I don't want to let him out again".
The mum-of-four from Birkenhead said: "I'm scared and worried to let him back out. He's only just started going out on his own - he's not a kid who likes sitting in front of the TV, he wants to be active and go out and ride his bike.
"I'm just worried about what would have happened if McDonald's wasn't open and staff didn't stop them getting in. Where would it have stopped?"
Natalia said her son has a bruised face from the assault but is trying to "be brave". She added he said he does not want to go back to Liscard following the attack.
Natalia said the pump track has become "lawless" and children have been put off going because gangs of teens sit and intimidate people. She said: "My son won't go back so that's another kid who's been put off going because he doesn't feel safe.
"He wasn't massively hurt in the assault but it's the psychological effect more than anything else. These teenagers are just ruining it for everyone else."
Following his escape to McDonald's Natalia's son was walked home by a stranger who was with his children. Natalia wants to thank the man who stepped in and ensured her son got away safely.
She added: "The man managed to get my home safe even though he didn't know the dangers. I just want to thank him so much for what he did."
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police told the ECHO: "On Sunday 5 June officers were called to a report of an assault on Wallasey Central Park. It was reported that a male was assaulted by a group of youths who tried to take to his bike that he was riding at the time of the incident.
"The male managed to ride off towards Liscard where one of the offenders followed him and assaulted him near the Cherry Tree centre. The victim escaped from the offender and managed to get help from people in the area.
"An investigation is underway, and witness enquiries are ongoing."
If you have any information, please contact @MerPolCC via Twitter, call 101 quoting reference 22000388708 or message @CrimestoppersUK, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
