Boy attacked at Grammar
By JONATHAN HOLDEN

A DEAF schoolboy was taken to hospital after being beaten with a baseball bat by members of a teenage gang on Friday night.

The 12-year-old was taken: to hospital, where he required stitches to his head.

It follows a string of incidents, seemingly involving the same group, over the last fortnight.

The gang, known, locally as 'The Ruders', are marked by their distinctive dress - sporting baseball caps with their trousers tucked into their socks.

The Ruders appear to have rivals locally called 'The Grungers' although the latter do not appear to be involved.

Last Friday, a group armed with bottles, bricks and baseball bats arrived at the 'Boys' Grammar School during a music event.

Children were left outside where it was stopped due to afire alert.

Concerned parents contacted the Express, to reveal how children were forced to hide in dark areas surrounding the school.

One, who asked not to be named, said: "My children simply watched in horror. When - they finally arrived home there had been tears, trauma and
police witness statements." Another described how her son was hit by a bat.

She said: "You could clearly see the impression on his-leg and the next day it was purple and black. I have no doubt if he'd been hit on the head with such force he would be dead."

Similarly-dressed youths have been involved in a string of incidents -around Buckland Hospital.

Porters have been pelted with stones, lights have been broken and youths have jumped on top of the flat roof of Menzies Ward.

Five double-glazed windows were destroyed in the old matron's quarters in Randolph Road were broken and a doctor was rehoused after her bed was showered with broken glass.

It follows it decision to close River Youth Club for a month after a female worker was sworn and spat at. River parish council chairman Derek Leach described how it was invaded and ransacked.

The youth worker, who asked not to be named, stressed a minnority with no connection to the club were responsible.

 She said: "It's one or two, and the rest stand around laughing. Children, will be children and it's up to us to sort it out, but I'd like a friendly "bobby who can call to nip any trouble in the bud."

Her colleague, said, "Even an hour would make a difference, it could simply be a question of having an officer talk to them. It's not the club that's the problem as this has been building over several years." It was the fourth incident, in ten days.

Cllr Leaeh said: "It's nightly. It's become a meeting place, with cars revving, loud music and swearing. In the morning there are beer and vodka bottles and condoms on the ground."

The police said they were aware of the problems. A spokesman asked witnesses to come forward and said offenders would be dealt with accordingly".

He said: "We need the co-operation of the community to help us by reporting anti-social incidents, or criminal activity as it helps build a picture of what is happening and where our resources are needed."