Boy attacked for being on wrong estate

A group of teenagers viciously attacked a boy as he walked to his grandma's house in Middleton.

The 16-year-old was walking along Lakeland Court on the Langley estate at about 10pm on Friday 30 January 2009 when a group of boys approached him.

The boys told him that he had better get out of the area and chased him down Mosedale Road, along Gale Road, onto Newton Crescent and Stainton Drive.

There they knocked him to the ground by hitting him on the back of his head.

While he was on the floor the two of the boys began repeatedly punching and kicking the 16-year-old.

They only stopped when a nearby resident shouted at them, and they ran off.

The victim was left bleeding and badly injured after the attack. He has been treated at hospital for ruptured ligaments to his left leg, a broken right hand and severe cuts and bruising to his face and body.

Two of the offenders are described as white, aged in their mid to late teens, and between 5ft 6 and 5ft 8in tall. One was tall and of medium build, and both were both wearing dark coloured hooded tops.

Detective Constable Charlie Stewart from Rochdale CID said: "This was a particularly vicious and wholly unprovoked attack that has left this lad badly injured. We need to speak to anyone who thinks they might have seen this group of lads walking around the estate that night, or who knows anything about this offence, as we are determined to catch the people responsible."

Anyone with any information about this attack is asked to contact Rochdale CID on 0161 856 1977 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.