Bristol boy has to carry alarm after being head-butted
A boy has been forced to wear an attack alarm around his neck while out playing on his bike after he was head-butted by a group of youngsters in south Bristol.
Brandon Hewer, 12, was out with friends in Doulton Way, Whitchurch, when a group of about 10 children, between the ages of seven and 13, surrounded and threatened them, preventing them from leaving the park.
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Brandon's disgusted mum Jane told the Post that one of the kids even head-butted her son during the incident, which happened about two weeks ago.
The youngster is now not allowed out of the house without an attack alarm around his neck in case he is threatened or physically assaulted again. Another of his friends is now housebound as his parents are too scared for him to venture outside.
Ms Hewer, who lives in Paddock Gardens, Whitchurch, said: "It is disgusting that a young boy has to wear an attack alarm while out playing.
"My son has just gone into senior school so I've only just allowed him out to play alone. But a group of kids around there are very confrontational, and my son doesn't like confrontation at all.
"The other week he was down in Doulton Way with his friends when a group of 10 children wouldn't let them leave the park and threatened them and told them not to use their mobiles.
"My son got head-butted by one of them and was physically shaken when he got home. Children around there just seem to want to pick fights with children who they perceive to be weaker than them."
Ms Hewer's daughter Chloe, 11, is not allowed outside by herself, and Brandon now has to carry a personal attack alarm with him at all times.
Ms Hewer, who raised the issue at the Hengrove and Stockwood Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meeting this week, added: "I gave him the attack alarm after this incident because I was scared of what would happen to him. It is just so sad that children around here cannot go out to play without the fear of being threatened."
11 Comments
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by alright dave, not in bristol
Sunday, April 26 2009, 6:40PM
“i reckon he should move out of bristol because i think they are all too busy ignoring each other there and looking for fights. and when they comment in this website they always attack the victim of the crime and never mention the attacker..
cheers”
by tidyperch, North Bristol
Sunday, April 26 2009, 4:57PM
“Ok. Lets do the 3 monkey trick & not report/do anything.
Crime wave solved.”
by Steven, North Bristol
Sunday, April 26 2009, 1:41PM
“The only reason this child has beed "forced" to wear an alarm around his neck is because of his mother.
She has made the poor child the centre of attention and he is now a prime target for bullying.
I hope she's proud of what she's done.”
by ABP, Bristol
Saturday, April 25 2009, 10:19PM
“All that this article will result in is the poor boy having to retrieve the alarm from where the "more confrontational" darlings have shoved it!”
by Sally, Whitchurch
Saturday, April 25 2009, 4:05PM
“TidyPerchi. That was rather a sweeping comment, i doubt a report of bullying 30 yrs ago would mean it not being around today.
I am sure she is doing what she feels is best, as any parent would but i feel she has not thought it through very well. The last thing i wanted when was bring bullied as a kid was my Mum turning up at school sorting things out, it made life the next day (when there was no mum) absolute hell. The mum here has gone further and mad an example of her lad, whether well meaning or not, i fear she has made him a target for more and possibly worse attention.
At the end of the day she could enroll him in martial arts classes , this would boost his confidence immensely and give him the courage to deal with situations himself.”
by tidyperchi, North Bristol
Saturday, April 25 2009, 3:49PM
“If bullying had been reported 30 years ago perhaps it would
not be happening today.
Its a mother doing what she thinks best for her child.”
by Steve, Bristol
Saturday, April 25 2009, 1:10PM
“Tidyperch,
Reported, yes - plastered all over the local paper, no.
There is a difference, you know.
30 years ago when I was a kid an incident like this wouldn't have got within a million miles of the Evening Post, and my parents wouldn't have given me an attack alarm - even if such a thing existed then.
Sure, it's not nice for this kid but it's all part of growing up. For a short time I was bullied as a kid, and, for an even shorter time, and to my eternal shame, I also did a bit of bullying.
It's called growing up and finding your place in the world.
The lad's mother is doing him no favours at all.”
by tidyperch, North Bristol
Saturday, April 25 2009, 10:57AM
“Perhaps bullying should not be reported. That will stop it happening !”
by Chris, Clifton
Saturday, April 25 2009, 10:55AM
“I think its crazy to publish a story like this, this is going to provoke more problems for this poor boy.”
by Tracey, Lawrence Weston
Saturday, April 25 2009, 9:33AM
“I completely agree with your comment Sally. My 12 year old daughter has suffered bullying but the last thing I would want to do is draw attention to her by publishing her photo in the local newspaper. Maybe naming and shaming the perpetrators would be a better option. It seems more harm than good will come from this - Out of the frying pan into the fire!”