Midlands Schoolboy Beaten with Wooden Bat After Knock-and-Run Prank
Schoolboy Beaten After Knock-and-Run Prank in Midlands

Violent Attack on Teenager Following Door-Knock Prank

A 15-year-old schoolboy was brutally beaten with a wooden plank and told he would never walk again after participating in a knock-and-run prank in a Midlands village. The incident occurred in Penkridge, Staffordshire, on the evening of Thursday, March 26, leaving the victim with physical injuries and significant psychological distress.

Details of the Assault

Aidan Cowie and a friend knocked on a house on Wolverhampton Road in the Grange Estate before running away, thinking little of the childish prank. Shortly afterward, a car pulled up alongside the boys on a nearby road. A man emerged wielding what was described as either a baseball bat or a wooden plank and gave chase.

"Aidan went one way, his mate went the other way," explained Kyle Cowie, Aidan's father. "The lad followed Aidan. He looked behind him, then saw the bloke was getting closer, so he tried to sprint more, but then got smashed over the back of the head with this piece of wood."

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The attacker then grabbed Aidan, threw him to the ground, and began hitting him while sitting on top of him. After numerous blows, he dragged the teenager toward the house where the prank had occurred. At this point, a second older man, believed to be in his 50s, joined the assault.

Escalation and Escape

The older assailant picked up the wooden plank and struck Aidan on the leg, declaring, "you're never going to walk again." As Aidan shouted for help, neighbors emerged from a nearby house. The older attacker falsely claimed the boys had been attempting to burgle his home.

With the assailants distracted by the bystanders, Aidan managed to pull away from his captor, who was holding him by his hood. He escaped through a hole in a fence and sprinted for his life to safety. Police were called immediately by the neighbors and responded promptly to the scene.

Aftermath and Injuries

Aidan was taken to A&E at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton. He suffered a lump on the back of his head, rib pain, and scratches all over his body. While his physical injuries were not as severe as those sustained by his older brother in a separate incident four years prior, the psychological impact has been profound.

"It's had a mental effect on Aidan," said Kyle. "Even as soon as when we first walked out of the hospital the next morning... his fear was there." Initially, Aidan was too afraid to leave the house or attend a planned party, though he later changed his mind.

Police Response and Community Concerns

Staffordshire Police confirmed they were called at 8:45 PM on March 26 to Grange Avenue, Penkridge, following reports of the assault. A spokesperson stated, "Officers have carried out enquiries and two men are due to be interviewed about the incident." They urged anyone with information, CCTV, doorbell, or dashcam footage to come forward.

However, Kyle expressed frustration with the follow-up, noting he received no updates for over two weeks and was not provided with a crime reference number. "The biggest concern is I had no updates for two and a half weeks," he said. "And my son's obviously asking daily what's happening."

The incident has highlighted ongoing issues with youth violence and anti-social behavior in the area, with Kyle revealing that other children had previously played knock-and-run at the same address. The community remains on alert as the investigation continues.

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