POLICE are appealing for witnesses to an assault on a teenage boy in the Thatto Heath district.

The 16-year-old was walking home along Scholes Lane, at about 11pm on Saturday, March 25 when the incident occurred. As he approached the traffic lights at the junction with Elephant Lane, he was chased by three youths who kicked him to the ground and carried on kicking and punching him while he lay on the floor.

After being helped to his feet by a passer-by, the teenager was taken to Whiston Hospital and treated for cuts and bruises to his head, face, wrist and legs.

One of the attackers was white, about 5ft 10in tall and aged about 18 years, with a dark skinhead-style haircut. He was wearing a dark jumper.

This was the third assault in the Thatto Heath area in recent weeks. On Wednesday, March 15 at about 8pm, a 26-year-old man was set upon by an assailant who had been hiding in bushes in Thatto Heath Park. The victim was knocked unconscious and when he came round he had badly-bruised eyes, a swollen cheek and jaw, and his wallet had been stolen.

In the first incident at about 10.30pm on Thursday, February 24, a 22-year-old man walking along Thatto Heath Road, opposite the Springfield Hotel, with three friends, was knocked out by a youth wielding a baseball bat. The attacker then lunged at another of the friends, hitting him on the arm, before running away.

The victim was taken to Whiston Hospital where he was treated for severe head and facial injuries. His attacker was in his late teens and about 6ft tall. He was wearing a dark-coloured baseball cap, white jacket and tracksuit top.

DS Tommy Wright, at St Helens police station, said: "We are not linking these attacks, althouth all the assaults are very similar and happened within a short distance of each."

Anyone with information can contact DC Paul Ford at St Helens CID on 0151 777 6064, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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