The mother of a 13-year-old boy who was filmed being savagely beaten and allegedly robbed by three older boys has spoken of her ‘horror and disgust’ at the attack.
Video of the unprovoked assault on 13-year-old Aiden Hersey led to outrage from thousands of people after the short clip went viral on social media.
MailOnline has chosen not to show the full video.
Angie Hersey, 36, said she has been unable to watch the shocking video but has seen photos of another youth towering over her son.
‘I have been in pieces and can’t bear to watch the video. That is my son, and I just feel sick to my stomach, she told Mail Online.
‘It hurts every time it is even mentioned. I can’t bear the thought of him being punched. I just want to cry and don’t understand how they could do something like that.
‘To know that has happened to my boy is just heart-breaking. No mum should have to know what he has suffered. This is any mum’s worst nightmare.’
The mother of a 13-year-old boy who was filmed being savagely beaten and allegedly robbed by three older boys has spoken of her ‘horror and disgust’ at the attack. Video of the unprovoked assault on 13-year-old Aiden Hersey led to outrage from thousands of people after the short clip went viral on social media
Aiden suffered bruising to his face and is still in a state of shock after he was repeatedly punched and kicked in an ordeal lasting up to 40 minutes on Sunday evening near his West London home.
Video of the sickening attack was posted on Snapchat by one of the youths present.
It was later uploaded to Twitter with many of those who viewed the clip saying it had left them in tears.
British boxing legend Lennox Lewis told Angie online that he would reach out to her privately and said he would ‘love to speak to’ her son.
He added: ‘Very sorry your son had to go through this. Can’t even comprehend why they did this.
‘There should be no tolerance for bullying.’
Angie Hersey, 36, said she has been unable to watch the shocking video but has seen photos of another youth towering over her son. ‘I have been in pieces and can’t bear to watch the video. That is my son, and I just feel sick to my stomach, she told Mail Online
Former Chelsea and England star John Terry tweeted: ‘This is heart-breaking. It has actually made me sick.’
He added: ‘I would like to invite him to a @ChelseaFC match and to give him one of my signed shirts and armbands.’
And ex-Westlife singer Brian McFadden tweeted:’ Catch these f+++++ horrible scum. Actually sick to my stomach watching this.’
He later added: ‘Does anyone know how to reach the boys family? I want to send him new trainers and coat. The poor little fella.’
The graphic video begins with Aiden cowering up against the wall of a block of flats and looking confused before one of the youths repeatedly punches him in the face.
Aiden attempts to shield his face with his hands, but they are pulled away before a blow lands on the side of his face.
The youth counts punches and Aiden is told to ‘hold his head up’.
Another youth with dreadlocks punches him twice in the face before a third launches a karate kick into his stomach.
Aiden suffered bruising to his face and is still in a state of shock after he was repeatedly punched and kicked in an ordeal lasting up to 40 minutes on Sunday evening near his West London home. Video of the sickening attack was posted on Snapchat by one of the youths present
The clips ends with Aiden being told to ‘strip now’. When he says ‘why’ one of the youth screams ‘naked’ as he cowers and looks bewildered.
While the clip lasts less than a minute his parents revealed his actual ordeal lasted up to 40 minutes.
Angie and Aiden’s dad Kevin McMahon were unaware of the alleged assault until a relative telephoned them to say their son was on social media.
‘Aiden had gone out to visit some friends and I called his mobile to ask if anything had happened, said Angie, who works as an inpatient ward administrator at St Thomas’s Hospital.
‘He said nothing, but he was just trying to hide what had happened. I think he was embarrassed.
British boxing legend Lennox Lewis told Angie online that he would reach out to her privately and said he would ‘love to speak to’ her son
Former Chelsea and England star John Terry tweeted: ‘This is heart-breaking. It has actually made me sick’
Ex-Westlife singer Brian McFadden tweeted: ‘Does anyone know how to reach the boys family? I want to send him new trainers and coat. The poor little fella’
‘I asked if he was telling me the truth and he said, “I had been robbed. They took my trainers and clothes”. You could hear it in his voice.
‘When he came home I could see all the bruises on his face. His ear had turned blue and I was hysterical. I called his dad and he came round and we called the police.
‘He told me they kept on walking him from estate to estate as they did not want people to intervene.
‘There were four of them, and two walked in the front and two at the back. The whole ordeal lasted 40 minutes.
‘When you think of how many punches he took, he must have been dazed and confused. I don’t know how he was still standing. He is so skinny.
‘He told me they took his coat, jumper and trainers. They also took his keys, but one of them handed them back.’
Kevin,43, said:’ I saw the video and it just turned my stomach. I could barely watch it. This has turned our world upside down.
‘We have barely eaten or slept. Just the thought of that happening to my lad is just not real.
‘I decided to put it online because this is what the people do. I just wanted to get it out there so people could see what happened to my Aiden.’
The video was tweeted by Brian McFadden to his 333,000 followers and Nick Knowles also posted a link to the video which was later removed.
Angie was overwhelmed with messages of support with McFadden saying he wanted to send Aiden new trainers and a coat.
John Terry said he wanted to give Aiden, a Chelsea supporter, one of his signed shirts and captain’s armband as well as invite him to a match.
Another well-wisher took Aiden shopping to buy new trainers and treated him to a new iPhone.
At the time of writing, a gofundme page started by a family friend had raised nearly £12,000
She said:’ We have just been so overwhelmed by the messages from people. People have been so kind. I joined twitter and all these messages started coming in. I was crying.
‘I have only seen a two second glimpse of the video and see a hand going to his face. I cannot watch any futher, I just panic and shake. I can see his little eyes and I just feel so sick and want to be there with him.’
A gofundme page started by a family friend has so far raised nearly £12,000.
Aiden was taken to hospital for a check up but did not have any facial fractures. Since the alleged attack he has become withdrawn and mum Angie believes he is still in shock.
He has been kept of school with his younger brother while Angie has been allowed to stay away from her job until next week.
Police have arrested two youths aged 15 and 13. A third youth aged 14 was also arrested.
The 15-year-old and 13-year-old appeared before Wimbledon Youth Court having been charged with robbery. The case was adjourned until March 15th.
A spokesman for Wandsworth Police said: ‘[A] aged 15 and [B] aged 13 were arrested on Monday, 28 February and are due to appear at Wimbledon Youth Court on Wednesday, 2 March charged with robbery.
‘Police were called at 19:00hrs on Sunday, 27 February to Wanborough Drive, Roehampton.
‘It was reported a teenage boy had been assaulted by a group of people who stole his jacket as well as other personal possessions.
‘The investigation remains ongoing.
‘Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police on 101 quoting CAD 6210/27Feb.
‘To remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
‘We’re aware of a video circulating in relation to this incident.
‘Members of the public and media are reminded that court proceedings are now active and to be mindful of sharing material and information that could be deemed prejudicial.’
