Devizes paperboy tells of his ordeal after being punched in face on his rounds (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Devizes paperboy tells of his ordeal after being punched in face on his rounds

12:00pm Thursday 31st January 2013 in News

TEENAGE paperboy Joshua Andrew has told of his fear when he was punched in the face by a man as he went on his rounds.

Fourteen-year-old Devizes School pupil Joshua was delivering newspapers ordered from the One Stop shop in Eastleigh Road, his Labrador dog Lady at his heels, the Saturday before last, when the incident happened in Nursteed Road.

His mother, Sarah Webb, said: “He was in the area of the Moonrakers pub when this man started shouting at him to put his dog on a lead.

“Joshua apologised and said it wouldn’t happen again. But this was not good enough for the man.

“He got more and more aggressive. He got really close to Joshua then punched him in the side of the face.”

Joshua said: “I can’t understand why the man was so angry.

“Lady is 12 years old and can’t go very fast. It was very frightening. After he hit me he just sort of stood over me before he went away.”

Joshua described the man as about 50, with a paunch and wearing a red woollen hat.

A friend of the family happened to be driving past and, though he didn’t witness the incident, he saw Joshua in distress and brought him home.

Ms Webb, of Maslen Close, Devizes, said: “The side of his face was all swollen. That has gone down now but Joshua is still shaken up by what happened.

“For the first couple of days after it happened he wouldn’t go out and at school he was very quiet and withdrawn.”

Joshua only started his paper round after Christmas, intending to save up money to buy parts for the scooter he is hoping to restore.

Devizes police said they are investigating the incident and anyone who saw what happened is asked to contact them on the 101 non-emergency number and ask for PC Steve Drage.

Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.