Video of a schoolboy being attack in a park has sparked anger in the local community, with one man vowing “there is no space for bullies on our streets."
The 11-year-old was in Adlam Park in Fazakerley on Sunday, May 2 at around 5pm when he was approached by another schoolboy. The video shows him being held to the floor and kicked and later having to fend off further attacks.
The boy’s mum, 31, who asked for herself and her son not to be named when recently speaking to the ECHO, recalled how he was grabbed by the neck and kicked in the head by the boy despite, she claimed, telling him he "just wanted to have a game of football".
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The incident has led to a range of people coming out in support of the 11-year-old, with money being raised and a number of gyms offering to provide training in self defence following the attack. Terry Chidlow, 34, who works with children in care, lives in the local area and has organised a Go Fund Me for the boy.
He told the ECHO there was “strong anger” in the area after the attack and people have since looked for ways to offer support. Terry said: “The community has been very angry, more so people who have kids and grandkids.
"The park, kids go and play football there, it’s a place where people walk their dogs. It is a nice area. There’s no space for bullies on our streets.”
Terry said gyms such as Streetwise, Falcon and ABC have all offered their support to the boy to help learn self defence. He added that this was to build confidence rather than to learn to fight.
Money was also donated to the boy on his birthday with £250 going towards equipment for the martial arts classes. Tickets have also been donated for him to go and watch Liverpool FC, with Terry saying the youngster has been “overwhelmed” and is “happy that everyone is behind him.”
Terry added: “We wanted that feeling of fear [he experienced] to become a feeling of happiness.”
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