Chenoa Gawn won't leave her mum Lynette's side. Photo / Natalie Slade
Anyone with information about the attack on Chenoa Gawn should contact Constable Wewege at the Wellsford police station on 09 423 8228.
A schoolgirl viciously assaulted by a group of men as she walked home from a friend's house last week is too scared to go anywhere by herself.
Chenoa Gawn, who turned 10 at the weekend, was biking home last Thursday when she was confronted by five men in Port Albert
Rd in Wellsford. She had been at a friend's house showing off an early birthday present and was only 100m from home.
One man, who was drunk and slurring his words, accused her of stealing the bike, which is a hand-me-down from her cousin.
Another clamped his hand over her mouth to stop her screaming as the bike was thrown at her several times. Chenoa said she heard a "sickening" crack and the men ran off. She suffered a knee injury and a bruised rib.
Her mother, Lynette, said Chenoa had been interviewed by Child Youth and Family for the police yesterday, and had her injuries photographed.
"Chenoa still won't go anywhere by herself," Mrs Gawn said. "But she's okay, hobbling but okay."
Chenoa had a minor setback yesterday, falling from her crutches and hurting her knee again.
Mrs Gawn wanted to thank everyone who had offered support and sent gifts for Chenoa since the Herald published details of the attack on Tuesday.
Readers have also expressed outrage at what happened to her.
"I am ashamed to be a New Zealander, let alone a male," said Bruce, a father of two girls aged 8 and 9.
"Words can't express how sick that makes me," wrote another reader. "I pray they jail those freaks for a few years."
"These five are nothing but scum of this earth," said another.
Constable Dale Wewege urged anyone with information on the men who attacked Chenoa to come forward.
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