Teenager's warning to others after gang of drunken youths stamped on his head in Wakefield park attack

A teenager who had his teeth knocked out and his head stamped on by a large gang of youths in Thornes Park is warning others to be vigilant.

The 19-year-old needed hospital treatment and a brain scan after being set upon by the 20-strong group which he thought were aged between 15 or 16.

The incident happened at around 8.30pm on Friday, September 18. The man, who does not wish to be named, had been with his girlfriend, two male friends and a female when they were initially approached by a drunken youngster.

After an initial good-natured conversation, the youngster then began making threats, saying he was going to get the 19-year-old stabbed and have a shotgun put to his head.

The man said: "He disappeared and came back with his mates, there were about 20 of them and one of them threatened me with a knife.

"When I told them I wasn't scared of them one of them punched me from behind and they all started laying into me.

"They stamped on my head and one of them used a scooter to hit me in the head."

Meanwhile, one of the man's friends was knocked unconscious and another suffered damage to his ear as the gang turned on them.

The man's girlfriend also suffered ligament damage to her hand as she tried to intervene.

The man lost his three front bottom teeth and suffered broken ribs but no a CT scan luckily showed no lasting damage.

He said: "I'm lucky to get away with what I did.

"I've been past the park since and got a feeling in the pit of my stomach, but I'm pretty strong willed and can get over things quite quickly.

"If it happened to anyone else it could really affect them.

"I just want people to be careful if they're going through Thornes Park because the police told me it's an issue around there."

Police say they are investigating the matter and if anyone has any information they are being urged to call 101 quoting the crime reference number, 13200470062.