Mum makes plea after son attacked

Another Hawke's Bay student has been attacked, this time at Windsor Park, Hastings.

A Hastings mother says "enough is enough" after her son was attacked while walking home from school this week - the latest in a string of assaults on young people.

Julie-Anne McKinnon said her son Jade Ferrier, 15, was set upon by four young men while walking home from school with his girlfriend about 3.30pm on Monday.

The pair were walking through Windsor Park, opposite Karamu High School.

Ms McKinnon said her son was attacked from behind.

"He was unconscious from the first punch. They kept kicking and punching him while he was on the ground, and his girlfriend helped fight them off. They kicked him so hard his braces were wedged back into his gum."

Following the attack, Jade and his girlfriend took shelter in a nearby house and police were called.

Jade suffered bruising to his face and a mouth injury requiring stitches.

The description given by Jade's girlfriend of his alleged attackers were four young men in mufti, aged between 13 and 20.

Ms McKinnon said he'd stay home from school this week "until he's healed a bit more, emotionally and physically".

She would be dropping off and picking Jade up directly from school in future.

"I just hope they're caught and punished," she said of her son's attackers.

"There's been too many incidents like this. Enough is enough."

In response to recent high profile assaults on young people, Police youth services co-ordinator (justice) for Hawke's Bay, Ross Stewart, is asking residents to look out for each other. "I think the community needs to ring police if they see anything suspicious.

"To some extent we've lost that in our communities - people don't want to be involved. If you do nothing, you're condoning it. The community needs to look out for itself."

Monday's attack adds to a string of similar incidents.

A schoolgirl was allegedly beaten on Karamu Rd about 10pm last Friday.

Two girls, aged 14 and 15, were arrested in relation to the attack and appeared in the Hastings Youth Court on Monday on assault charges.

Meanwhile, police were still searching for a group responsible for an attack on a Napier schoolgirl last Thursday.

A 12-year-old girl was set upon by a group of youths about 8.30am in an alleyway between Hillary Cres and Riverbend Rd in Maraenui.

She was on her way to William Colenso College.

And an unprovoked attack on Hastings Intermediate School student Azaleas Quenton also sparked public outrage last month.

Azaleas, 12, was left bloodied and bruised following an assault as he walked through Akina Park in Hastings on his way home from school.

A 14-year-old was charged with injuring with intent to injure and appeared in Hastings Youth Court this month.

The teenager was one of five youths who allegedly struck Azaleas as he walked through Akina Park with his bike.

• Anyone with information about any of these assaults should phone Hawke's Bay Police on 06 831 0700 or information can be left anonymously on Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.