BOYS ATTACKED IN PARK

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31317, 13 March 1967, Page 1

BOYS ATTACKED IN PARK

Some 15-year-old boys were attacked in Thompson Park, North New Brighton, in the early hours of Saturday morning, a car belonging to one of them was damaged to the extent of more than £7O and his wallet, money and transistor radio were stolen.

Alan Arthur Dearden, of 58 McGregors road, said yesterday he was driving along Portchester street about 1 a.m. on Saturday when some persons standing near an old model light truck called out to him to stop. He had a number of companions in the car.

He said that a youth got into the back of his car and ordered him to follow the truck after there had been some discussion about a party. Dearden told the youth to get out of the vehicle but he refused. After one of the passengers in the car, Wayne Campbell,

of 15 Eureka street, had been let off at bis home, another youth who had been travelling in the truck got into the front seat of Dearden’s car. Dearden said he was forced to drive to New Brighton behind the truck which stopped near the Post Office. One of those in the truck got out and threw a rubbish tin at two girls and a boy sitting on the steps of the Post Office. Dearden was ordered to drive to Thompson Park and to reverse into trees. The occupants of the truck were drinking beer from half-gal-lon flagons. Dearden and one of his companions, William Willis, of 15 Mackworth street, went up into the trees. Willis jumped over a fences went to a house and telephoned the police. When Dearden returned to the car the two persons who had forced their way into his vehicle were pretending to fight. One of Dearden’s friends was seized and he called out: “You’ve got the wrong bloke.” The youths replied: “No we haven’t.” The boy, a Maori, was knocked to the ground and was kicked in the head and body. The brother of the boy who was being assaulted ran out into the middle of the park with the intention of diverting attention from his brother. Dearden also ran but was tripped. He said he was asked if he had any money and he said he had not. He was ordered to go back to the car, but managed to escape into the sandhills where he waited until the police arrived. In the meantime the youths pulled the wiring out of his car, smashed the battery, pulled out the floor carpets, stole his wallet containing £2, some cash, driving licence and some papers, and five packets of cigarettes. Before the police arrived the youths drove off in the truck.