Residents terrified by youths (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Residents terrified by youths

9:05am Wednesday 28th May 2008 in Swindon By Emily Walker

TERRIFIED residents have said they are too afraid to stand up to a gang of youths, after two men were attacked.

Two men were leaving the Village Tavern in Toothill on Friday night when they saw a group of youngsters shouting racist abuse outside the Chinese takeaway.

Suddenly the gang turned on the two men attacking them with bottles.

One man was beaten unconscious, and left with a broken shoulder bone.

The other was attacked with a broken bottle, leaving a gash in his head which needed stitches.

One concerned Toothill resident said: "I hadn't seen the kids hanging around for a while. I don't know why they suddenly came back on Friday night.

"The kids were up at the Chinese, shouting racist abuse. One of the guys went down and they just started on him.

"He had to have stitches in his face. The other guy had a broken collar bone and only came out of hospital on Sunday."

Gangs were banned from hanging around near the shops last year, following more than 100 crimes in six months.

Police and council officials enforced a dispersal order last April, giving them the power to break up large groups of youths, and arrest them if they refused.

But the order expired in October.

Lawrence Score, licensee at Toothill Social club said: "Things were better when we had the dispersal order.

"The problem is it is not kids from here, it's kids from Freshbrook.

"I guess they come here because there are fewer police about.

"When the police do come, the kids just run off as soon as they see the blue lights. They probably only go around the corner as and then they are back five minutes later.

"The trouble starts when they are in a big group. It's always four of five of them, not one on one.

"It makes them feel more powerful."

A mother of three said that she did not allow her teenage children out on their own at night because of fear of youths hanging around outside the Village Centre shops.

"There's always trouble up here, that's why I always want to know where they are.

"It is hard because even if you wanted to confront them, you don't know what they are going to do to you."

Det Con James Newbery, of Swindon CID said: "Police are investigating a disorder at Toothill Village centre where a group of youths attacked two men.

"One person was seriously injured; the other received minor injuries."

Police have arrested a 41-year-old and an 18-year-old for the assault.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the assault to come forward. Anyone with any information should contact Swindon CID on 0845 408 7000.