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Attack yobs leave Blackburn teenager unconcious

4:35pm Monday 21st April 2008

comment Comments (19)   Have your say »

Photograph of the Author By Camilla Sutcliffe »

A TEENAGER was left unconscious after a vicious attack on him and his two friends.

Ryan Callaghan and Tom Walker, both 16, and a 16-year-old friend were set upon by a group of up to 10 youths outside the New Moon Chinese takeaway, Chapel Street, Mill Hill, Blackburn, at 10.15pm.

Tom was knocked to the ground and received kicks and stamps to his head as he lay unconscious.

Ryan's father Martin Callaghan said the three boys, all pupils at St Bede's High School, had gone to get a takeaway when some of the youths asked them for cigarettes. When the teenagers said they did not smoke, Ryan was headbutted twice and punched in the side of the face.

When Tom stepped in to help, he was knocked down, with attackers continuing to kick and stamp on his head.

All three boys were left with bloodied noses and other facial injuries, and Tom had to spend the night in the Royal Blackburn Hospital after the attack, on Friday.

The boys' families have expressed concern that police did not make it to see the boys until more than an hour later.

Police said they went to the scene of the attack within five minutes of a call from the ambulance service, but on finding that the ambulance was gone and no-one was there, they left.

They did not speak to the victims until 11.25pm, after another phone call from Martin Callaghan, Ryan's father. Police said they had driven round the area looking for the attackers before visiting the boys, but found nothing.

Tom's father Christopher said: "They actually stamped on Tom's head, and when you think what could have happened - a girl in Bacup died after that happened to her - it's really frightening.

"He doesn't have any recollection of what happened."

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: "Police received a call at 22.19 from the ambulance to ask for our attendance to a street disturbance. Our support unit attended the scene within seven minutes and on arrival, the ambulance was no longer present.

"People at the scene were spoken to and there did not appear to be any problem. On later receiving calls from the parents of the people involved, we attended for a second time."

"The incident happened at approximately 10.15pm on New Chapel Street Blackburn where three 16-year-old boys were set upon by a group of other youths. One parent took her son to hospital where he received treatment for facial injuries before being released.

"An investigation is underway to identify those responsible. The Neighbourhood Policing team are making enquiries in the local area and are viewing CCTV footage. Since the incident, an officer has attended the hospital and a witness has come forward."

One of the offenders was a white and 5ft 8ins.

Witnesses should contact police on 0845 1 25 35 45 quoting log reference number 342eq/180408 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Pete, Darwen says...
4:44pm Mon 21 Apr 08

7 minutes?!!!!! There's police based in the community centre literally across the road. And what about the CCTV? Bet it ain't working. Disgusting. And IF they can be bothered to catch these thugs (no doubt they already know who did it) all they'll get as punishment is a social services holiday to Florida. Britain is dead and a large portion of the blame has to be pointed at the watered-down, powerless, politically correct police service.

billy, Audley says...
5:29pm Mon 21 Apr 08

More MillHill Madness

Valley Boy, says...
5:47pm Mon 21 Apr 08

Pete wrote:
7 minutes?!!!!! There\'s police based in the community centre literally across the road. And what about the CCTV? Bet it ain\'t working. Disgusting. And IF they can be bothered to catch these thugs (no doubt they already know who did it) all they\'ll get as punishment is a social services holiday to Florida. Britain is dead and a large portion of the blame has to be pointed at the watered-down, powerless, politically correct police service.
And what are YOU doing to change things then ?

Lee, Blackburn says...
6:43pm Mon 21 Apr 08

Soft **** scruffy under educated idiots are all the words that come to mind when I think of people like the 10 youths in this report. I bet your parents are really proud. You inbreed numptys.

just me xx, lancs says...
10:08pm Mon 21 Apr 08

Pete wrote:
7 minutes?!!!!! There\'s police based in the community centre literally across the road. And what about the CCTV? Bet it ain\'t working. Disgusting. And IF they can be bothered to catch these thugs (no doubt they already know who did it) all they\'ll get as punishment is a social services holiday to Florida. Britain is dead and a large portion of the blame has to be pointed at the watered-down, powerless, politically correct police service.
well said...

CHRiS, Ewood says...
10:37pm Mon 21 Apr 08

I grew up in Mill Hill, and only moved when I got married, I recently saw a formeer neighbour of mine who had lived there since the fifties, who said if she wasn't in her eighties she'd move.

escaped, Spain says...
11:31pm Mon 21 Apr 08

Pete wrote:
7 minutes?!!!!! There's police based in the community centre literally across the road. And what about the CCTV? Bet it ain't working. Disgusting. And IF they can be bothered to catch these thugs (no doubt they already know who did it) all they'll get as punishment is a social services holiday to Florida. Britain is dead and a large portion of the blame has to be pointed at the watered-down, powerless, politically correct police service.
I agree with your posting Pete but the Police in the Community Centre could have been busy elswhere, we don't yet know if the CCTV was (probably was) defective as you suggest. They WILL however know who did carry out the attack, but as usual with the scales of justice favouring the criminal the police are pis***g against the proverbial. these thugs will not get a holiday in Florida because they wont get prosecuted for their actions, maybe a caution. You're Right about Britain being 'dead' I happen to think it's fkd, but the blame has to lie at the threshhold of this government who cater for all types of minorities (including criminals) to win votes, and by stealth have made our once world renowned Police Service political puppets.

Pete, Darwen says...
11:53pm Mon 21 Apr 08

Valley Boy wrote:
Pete wrote: 7 minutes?!!!!! There\\\'s police based in the community centre literally across the road. And what about the CCTV? Bet it ain\\\'t working. Disgusting. And IF they can be bothered to catch these thugs (no doubt they already know who did it) all they\\\'ll get as punishment is a social services holiday to Florida. Britain is dead and a large portion of the blame has to be pointed at the watered-down, powerless, politically correct police service.
And what are YOU doing to change things then ?
I'm trying to educate kids in schools, going out to youth groups, running clubs in community centres. I have for 20 years and always been positive about it. But over the last 2 years I've reached a point where I'm thinking society is beyond help for 3 generations or more. The govt are letting down the working classes again - this time not by favouring the middles but the underclass. This is sinking into kids aged 6 or 7 - antisocial behaviour is something to achieve. The next generation in this country is going to be horrific. So what are YOU doing about it?

stooball66, blackburn says...
8:59am Tue 22 Apr 08

Police what police the always after the event police never around when really needed at a guess they will have had half the police force out sniffing for cannabis .The other half PCSO females would be bleaching there hair and making sure they had that manly look mmmmmmm 7st
or 20st what use to man or dog are they.
what to do about it vote conservative Cameron has promised to put the police force in the hands of the people or should i say they will be accountable to us and not to government
That is one way of making sure that they are around and not skulking down back alleys sniffing

WayneKerr, says...
9:15am Tue 22 Apr 08

Pete wrote:
Valley Boy wrote:
Pete wrote: 7 minutes?!!!!! There\\\'s police based in the community centre literally across the road. And what about the CCTV? Bet it ain\\\'t working. Disgusting. And IF they can be bothered to catch these thugs (no doubt they already know who did it) all they\\\'ll get as punishment is a social services holiday to Florida. Britain is dead and a large portion of the blame has to be pointed at the watered-down, powerless, politically correct police service.
And what are YOU doing to change things then ?
I'm trying to educate kids in schools, going out to youth groups, running clubs in community centres. I have for 20 years and always been positive about it. But over the last 2 years I've reached a point where I'm thinking society is beyond help for 3 generations or more. The govt are letting down the working classes again - this time not by favouring the middles but the underclass. This is sinking into kids aged 6 or 7 - antisocial behaviour is something to achieve. The next generation in this country is going to be horrific. So what are YOU doing about it?
Pete you are quite right,

The social underclass is winning at every level and in a couple of generations God only knows what this country will be like.

I don't think the fault lies with the officers on the srteet more with those who are supposed to be in charge.

The Police is a powerless, politically correct, service these days, brought about by a useless, target obsessed Government and senior officers who are only interested in their own career.

Still, if what i have read on here is correct at least Lancs Police have achieved a 50% recruitment rate for female officers and come up with half a dozen new ways for people to report Homophobic and racist crime.

Nothing mentioned about how to catch those responsible though.

While blaming the Police & Government is one side of it I believe the bulk of responsibility rests with parents.

Responsibility starts at home!

sooz, says...
1:16pm Tue 22 Apr 08

The little sh1ts, wot r the parents of these scumbags doin while there kids r out beatin up other people for fun?? its absoloutly disgusting i would be so ashamed if one of them brats wer mine!

peter, bburn says...
5:50pm Tue 22 Apr 08

blame the government and the EU do gooders witht he human rights bill and over the top child protection laws. cant discipline a kid at home scared of social services, cant be disciplined at school teachers scared of losing careers. police catch the culprits courts let them go. cant have to many prisoners in one prison would overcrowd and what of there human rights?

ciara, Blackburn says...
10:04am Wed 23 Apr 08

aww ryan is my friend!! Nasty pastys

john, blackburn says...
10:32am Wed 23 Apr 08

The little sh1ts, wot r the parents of these scumbags doin while there kids r out beatin up other people for fun?? its absoloutly disgusting i would be so ashamed if one of them brats wer mine! you nob ,(what are the parents doing)
then you say you,d be a shamed if one of the brats is yours,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,so your saying you dont no if it is yours or not ,just like every other parent when there kids go out to play,,,i take it you have a tracker on your kids so you no where they r 24/7.. i just get so sick of everyone saying what r there parents doing while this is going on ,there proberly doing what every other parent does when the kids go out ,clean, wash iron, cook etc

Martin, Rishton says...
12:31pm Wed 23 Apr 08

I know what needs doing, article three of the European Human Rights act needs ammending. It's intent is to prevent torture of prisoners and humiliating punishments. Nothing humiliating about a good birching. I'm sure after getting a good thrashing with a birch these oafs and their friends would soon buck their ideas up. I've said it countless times and will continue to say it. Bring back public flogging, it's in England's best interests.

Deano, Mill Hill says...
3:11pm Wed 23 Apr 08

john wrote:
The little sh1ts, wot r the parents of these scumbags doin while there kids r out beatin up other people for fun?? its absoloutly disgusting i would be so ashamed if one of them brats wer mine! you nob ,(what are the parents doing) then you say you,d be a shamed if one of the brats is yours,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,so your saying you dont no if it is yours or not ,just like every other parent when there kids go out to play,,,i take it you have a tracker on your kids so you no where they r 24/7.. i just get so sick of everyone saying what r there parents doing while this is going on ,there proberly doing what every other parent does when the kids go out ,clean, wash iron, cook etc
Of course it's the parents responsibility to make sure that their kids are raised to show respect for other people!

I'm sick of lazy parents blaming everyone because their kids are scummy little scrotes!

Lazy chav parents raise lazy chav children - simple as that.

Pete, Darwen says...
10:58pm Wed 23 Apr 08

A lad I know went into Mill Hill today to report a viscious assault on him across from the centre moments earlier by an assailant still in the area. The advice from the 6 (SIX!) police officers in the building? "We can't do anything. You'll need to go away and phone the police."!!!!!!!!!!!

In that moment the police let him down, the community down and sparked a tit-for-tat retaliation.

sooz, tit says...
11:15pm Thu 24 Apr 08

lol love the comment john since my daughter is only 5 yeah i do no wer she is 24/7 u dont need a tracker on ur kids just bring them up with some morals an u wont have to worry that they r behaving like animals.

sarah On The Move Again, On The Go says...
10:20pm Sat 14 Jun 08

My God 3 teenages going for a takeaway and some other people attack them and the police dont do **** all they are lazy sods who dont give a dam about the people who get beaten up the police should but all the bullies in a cell until they can be good in public we need more police on the street

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