Girl left traumatised after supermarket gang assault

A TEENAGE girl has been left traumatised after being attacked by a gang of ten older youths in a supermarket car park.

The 13-year-old was punched twice in the face by a boy aged about 15 before the group of five boys and five girls set upon her.

The girl’s father told the Evening News that she was now afraid to go to the shops alone following the incident in the Tesco car park at Fort Kinnaird retail park.

Police today appealed for any witnesses as the hunt continues for the youths.

The victim’s father, who asked not to be named, said: “She was out shopping with her friend last Thursday evening. She was in the Tesco car park when they got grabbed by some older guys.

“Her friend, who is smaller than her, ran away but my daughter was grabbed. Although they didn’t try to take anything from her, two guys just jumped her.

“One smacked her in the face. When she asked ‘what did you do that for?’ he did it again. She has scratches on her neck and her face was swollen. They ran away when Tesco staff came running out.

“CCTV apparently cannot identify them.”

The father said the youths had been hanging around the supermarket when his daughter was singled out for the assault.

He added: “There were ten of them, five girls and five guys. There were two guys who hit her but girls were involved as well.

“My daughter has gone back to school but she doesn’t want to go out to the shops by herself any more. They were all 15 years old or so, a good bit older than my daughter.

“My daughter has been quite traumatised and has had a horrible reaction to it.”

A police spokesman said: “Lothian and Borders Police are investigating after a 13-year-old girl was assaulted by a group of youths.

“The victim suffered minor injuries to her face and head during the incident, which happened around 8pm on Thursday, May 3.

“Anyone who was in the area and witnessed the assault or who can assist with our inquiries to identify the suspects is asked to come forward.”

The victim’s father said staff at the retail park who had come to his daughter’s aid had said a similar attack had taken place the previous evening, though police did not have any record of the incident.