Telford teenager suffers head injuries following street robbery
Police are investigating after a teenager was robbed and struck several times on the head with what was believed to be a small baton in Telford.
The 17 year-old was walking alone along Oakengates Road in Donnington as he made his way home from swimming when the incident happened at around 9.50pm yesterday.
On reaching the junction at Cordingley Way he saw four males walking towards him on the opposite side of the junction. As they all crossed over one of the men from the group of four asked the teenager for a cigarette. He gave them one. The group carried on walking in the opposite direction.
Moments later the victim saw two members of the group turn around and walk towards him and then block his path. One of the men struck the victim several times to the head, with what was believed to be a small baton.
As teenager crouched to the ground, one of the other group members pulled the his sports bag, which contained a small amount of cash and his swimming kit, off his shoulder. The group then fled into Furnace Lane.
Two passers-by saw the teenager following the incident and came to his aid. They called police and an ambulance. The victim suffered three deep lacerations to his head and was taken to the Princess Royal Hospital for treatment.
A Telford Police spokeswoman said: "The victim has described the group as consisting of two white men and two black men. One of the white men asked the victim for a cigarette and it was the two black men who assaulted the victim and stole his bag.
"We want to hear from anybody who was in the area at the time and saw this group either before, during or after the attack.
"This was a senseless attack on a teenager, which has left him extremely shaken.
"The cuts to his head were very deep and required stitching.
"Police are carrying out a number of enquiries including looking at CCTV and carrying out house to house enquiries but we need help from the public.
"If you have any information at all that could assist our investigation, please come forward."
The stolen bag is described as a navy blue Donnay sports bag. It had several keyrings attached to it of the victim on theme park rides. The bag contained a swimming kit consisting of a red towel and white shorts, a brown leather union jack wallet which contained bank cards and around £6 cash.
Two of the suspects are described as black, and around 5ft 9ins tall to 5ft 11ins tall. One was wearing a black hooded top and trousers. The other was wearing a black hooded top with a purple trim around the hood and red or orange toggles on the cord of the hood.
Anyone with information about the incident should contact Telford Police on 0300 333 3000 or the anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.
