Dad defends son and ‘feral’ pals who ‘threw flour and eggs at vulnerable woman’ as she breaks silence
Four teens were arrested after allegedly throwing eggs and flour at the woman before taking a photograph with her in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
A DAD has today defended his teen son and his pals after they were arrested over an alleged attack that saw a vulnerable woman pelted with eggs and flour.
The 49-year-old woman was humiliated after the "feral" youths took a photo smirking behind her as she sat cowering on a park bench in Suffolk on Friday.
Today, a man, who identified himself as the dad of one of the boys, defended his son, saying he was "sorry" but had "not done anything".
Speaking exclusively to The Sun Online, the man, who did not want to be named, said: "He just walked past. He saw and thought it was going to be a fun picture.
"Someone took it and someone spread it all over the country."
He added: "He was making a stupid mistake but he was not involved with anything else."
The dad said his son was "shocked", adding: "He's feeling bad because he didn't think it would spread that wildly.
"He's sorry but he has not done anything."
He added that they had already given a statement to police.
Four boys, two aged 17 and two aged 15, were arrested and bailed over the alleged attack on Friday.
It comes as the vulnerable woman, who did not want to be named for fear of repeat attacks, today condemned the teens as pals rallied around her.
But she said she didn't want to heighten tensions on the 1960s estate in Bury St Edmunds where she lives as many already live in fear of local teens.
Standing outside her terraced house today, she said: "I don't consider it acceptable but I don't particularly want to escalate the current tension in the area.
"I've got to be careful with how I deal with things obviously."
Police said the woman had been left "severely distressed" but physically unharmed.
Officers today took a statement from the woman after the incident.
Families of those allegedly involved said they had received threats after the suspect's names had been shared widely online.
One family even said they were under police protection, with a mum adding the threats were impacting her son's 16th birthday celebrations.
And a dad of one of the boys told: "He told me what he had done and I told him that was an idiotic thing to do.
"I marched him straight down to the local police station and made him tell the officers what had happened.
"He didn't throw any of the flour or eggs on that woman, he just joined the others posing for the photograph."
It comes after the stepmum of a 17-year-old allegedly involved admitted he was being a "stupid boy" - as people branded the attack as "vile" and "feral".
The stepmum of one of the boys also involved added: "He got caught up in it all, it was a stupid thing to do."
Fears of vigilante attacks mounted over the weekend as the photo of the woman slumped on the bench was shared online.
One person wrote on the social networking site: "That's someone's Nan, why would you Bully a little old lady.
Another said: "To the boys from bury who thought it was okay to abuse an old lady with eggs and flour... you're f*****g disgusting."
Today, local town councillor Paul Hopfensperger, who represents the ward the estate is in, said; "I was absolutely sickened by what I saw.
"It's just a small group of lads who seem intent on causing trouble all the time.
"This lady I understand is a vulnerable person and for them to do that to her I was shocked and saddened."
I don't consider it acceptable but I don't particularly want to escalate the current tension in the area
Woman allegedly attacked by youths
Inspector Anthony Bridgland said: "This type of behaviour is totally unacceptable and we are treating the matter seriously.
"We know this incident may have caused concern and anger both in the local community and online but we would like to reassure everyone that we are tackling the matter robustly and supporting the victim."
A friend of the victim, Katherine Brame, said the woman was "safe," writing on Facebook: "I have to speak out. Today’s incident has made me so sad and devastated.
"The lady in question needs her privacy and suffers with an unseen illness.
"She cannot cope with people popping in, or gifts. It’s complicated but if you want to help, how about donating to a mental health charity as people with these unseen illnesses go under the radar all the time and they are totally under-funded.
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"Then maybe she will get the real help she needs from qualified people. You’re all very kind."
Social media star Robin Armstrong posted the image to his 750,000 followers with a lengthy video rant in which he says he wants to "lead the way" in finding the youths.
Anyone with information about this incident or anyone who may have witnessed anything is asked to contact Suffolk police on 101 quoting reference 42206/18 or use the online link by visiting //www.suffolk.police.uk/contact-us/report-something.
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