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Lupset girl gang carry out shocking attack on teenage boy
Joseph Morris, 14, is disabled and uses a specially adapted trike. A gang of girls started on him in Lupset. They swore at him, called him names and spat on him. with his mum Yvonne and sister Becky
A gang of girls spat and shouted abuse at a disabled boy as he rode his specially adapted tricycle just yards from his home in Lupset.
Joseph Morris, 14, was riding along Gloucester Road on Tuesday afternoon when he stopped to let the gang go past him.
But they started shouting abuse at him, calling him a paedophile and spitting on him repeatedly.
Joseph, who suffers from autism and Asperger’s, said: “I was on the path and I know you always give right of way to pedestrians so I went on the grass to let them past.
“They started shouting at me and told me to go pedal somewhere else.
“They started swearing at me. I told them there was no need to do that. Then they started spitting on me and my bike.
“They grabbed hold of my handle bars and tried to push me off and spat on me again.”
Joseph was born with a condition called complex bilateral pes cavus which meant his feet did not grow as normal and he also has problems with his hands.
Last year he spent four months in hospital undergoing four gruelling operations to stretch his feet.
He has to wear splinters night and day while he is on the waiting list for a pair of special boots that will support his feet and legs.
His dad, Andy Morris, 48, of Cotswold Road, said: “Joseph was so upset afterwards.
“He was literally dripping with spit.
“We believe he was targeted because of his trike. On the outside Joseph looks like any other teenager - no one can tell what he has been through.”
Three of the girls were aged around 14.
One was around 5ft 5ins tall, of slim build with long dark brown hair. She was wearing a white long sleeved top, a red gilet, black trousers and brown ‘Ugg’ style boots.
The younger girls were aged around five and seven-years-old.
Insp Richard Close, of the Central neighbourhood police team, said: “The has been a shocking attack on a vulnerable teenager which is why it’s important we identify the youngsters involved.
“The victim was riding a very distinctive bike so I would urge anyone to get in contact if you may have witnessed the assault taking place.
“We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour and would ask you to come forward with any information about the perpetrators.”
Anyone with any information should call the NPT on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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Monday 20 May 2013
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