A young boy who was on a cycling trip with his mum has been left “terrified” after a man hit him in the head while riding his bike, his mother has said.
Mum, Emma Weeks, 31, said her son, 5, was enjoying a bike ride with her and his older sister on Cleethorpes seafront when the man attacked him shortly after 12pm on Monday (April 8). The family were cycling on North Promenade near Wonderland when the unknown man allegedly struck the little boy, snapping off part of his helmet, GrimsbyLive reports.
Emma said she tried to chase the man down as soon as it happened but he managed to get away. Humberside Police are investigating the incident and reviewing CCTV footage from the area. She recalled: "My son is only five and was enjoying a little ride out to go and get donuts. He was sobbing and he was shaking like a leaf. I've never seen him so scared.
Emma Weeks, 31, and her son were cycling on the North Promenade, Cleethorpes when the incident occurred (Grimsby Live/MEN MEDIA)"My six-year-old daughter didn't witness it as she was just a couple of feet in front of my son on her bike, but she absolutely sobbed too because of what had just happened to my son. She was devastated for him." Emma added: "Nothing has happened like this before. I just don't understand why it even happened in the first place. My son was just on the path ringing his bell when that man hit him as he walked past.
"On my son's helmet, there's a mudguard at the front of it which is the part the man hit. He snapped one of the little prongs on one side of it so the mudguard bit was hanging off on one side. My son pointed the man out and I tried to catch up with him to confront him. He was definitely speed-walking trying to get away. I just don't understand why he felt the need to do that. It's scary because it feels like there's nowhere safe to take our kids anymore. I asked my son what he would like to happen if they found the man who did it, and he said that he wanted the man to say 'sorry'. It's angered me that anyone has the right to touch anyone else."
Gangsters ‘call for ceasefire’ after deadly Christmas Eve pub shooting
Emma said she tried to chase the man down as soon as it happened but he managed to get away (Grimsby Live/MEN MEDIA)"A group of women came to us and tried to comfort him. They were lovely." Speaking of the impact on her son, the mum added: "I'm glad my son was wearing his helmet as he could have really hurt him. Physically he's okay, but emotionally he's shaken up and was really frightened. I rang the police straight away and they said they'd check CCTV and send a patrol to look for him. I just hope it doesn't stop my son from wanting to ride his bike again down the beach. He is quite resilient, bless him, and he's been playing with his sister and being his usual self but he does keep mentioning it so it's clearly affected him."
A spokesperson for Humberside Police said: "Investigations are ongoing after we received reports of an assault on Cleethorpes Beach on Monday 8 April. It is believed at around 12.10pm that a 5-year-old boy was on the beach with his mother when a man approached him and assaulted him. Officers from the local neighbourhood policing team will be conducting extra patrols within the area and encourage anyone with concerns to please speak to them.
We are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have been in the area at the time and anyone with information which may assist with our enquiries should please contact us on our non-emergency number 101 quoting log 160 of 8 April. You can also report information anonymously on 0800 555 111."
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
