A man alleged a gang of young thugs beat him to the ground, bit and kicked him and broke his nose and cheekbone in front his partner’s young son.
Barry Trout, 28, from Ashtead, said he was attacked after playing football with Alfie, 10, at the skate park behind the youth centre in Barnett Wood Lane, Ashstead, at about 5pm last Monday.
While playing football Mr Trout said Alfie asked about the smell of cannabis smoke coming from a large group of youths hanging around. He said there were up to 30 of them, aged approximately 16 to 21 years-old.
He said: "I went up to them and said ‘please have some respect, there are children about and you're smoking drugs'. The next thing you know, about 10 of them jumped on me."
Mr Trout said he was knocked down, repeatedly hit all over and kicked in the face. He was left with a bite mark on his back, fractured eye socket, bruises and a broken nose and cheekbone.
He said: "It all happened so quickly and there were so many of them it was all a bit of a blur. It couldn’t have been nice for Alfie, he was upset to see me get hurt. It’s not nice for a boy to see that."
Alfie Williams and Barry Trout on Tuesday, July 21
Barry was taken to Epsom Hospital by ambulance and lots of police officers came down. Mr Trout has decided to speak out to help bring his attackers to justice and to stop what he calls persistent anti-social behaviour in the park.
He said: "I think it’s disgusting behaviour. It’s something that been bugging me for quite a long time. It’s a children’s play park, not a place for people to sit around and take drugs."
Police said a 17-year-old from Epsom was arrested in connection with the attack and has been released on bail until September.
A spokeswoman said: "Surrey Police is appealing for information following an altercation between a large group of people at Ashtead Skate Park which resulted in a man suffering serious facial injuries."
Police said the "altercation" involving about 20 people was reported at 6.30pm.
Anyone with information should call Surrey Police on 101, quoting crime reference number 45150063370 or by using the online reporting system found at https://my.surrey.police.uk/splonlinereportingweb
Alternatively the independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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