Boy in vicious attack

2:26pm Thursday 14th August 2008

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A teenage boy was viciously attacked by two youths in the latest violent incident in a Chippenham town centre trouble spot.

The 13-year-old boy was walking through the St Andrew's churchyard at 10pm on August 8 when two teenage yobs set on him kicking and punching him in the head.

Less than 24 hours later a fire extinguisher was thrown through a window of a house owned by the church on neighbouring St Mary Street.

The churchyard is well known in the town for attracting large groups of people drinking and taking drugs.

The Rev Simon Tatton-Brown has condemned the people who misuse the churchyard.

He said: "We welcome people using the churchyard as a quiet haven but it is a shame that people come in to spoil it.

"We do suffer from people coming out of the pubs late at night and causing trouble.

"We have found needles and heroin in the churchyard and that is troubling.

"But we get tremendous support from the district council's clean up teams who visit us in white jump suits and deep clean the area.

"This is nothing new however. It is a problem but it is managed.

"The police are good and do keep an eye out on the churchyard for us.

"At the end of the day the churchyard is a public space and we cannot stop people from using it."

In the latest incident, police arrested the two teenagers shortly after the attack. One was cautioned and released and the other was bailed while police investigations continue.

Richard Allen, 77, of The Butts, said that he often feels too threatened to walk through the churchyard.

He said: "There are always groups of men and women drinking and swearing."

Anyone with information on either of the incidents last week should call police on 0845 408 7000, or anonymously on Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.