Hellhole UK city ‘overrun’ by ‘feral’ teenagers who throw rocks and assault aged folks
Feral teens are bringing mayhem to the outskirts of Manchester, forcing businesses to close early as their staff and customers face abuse and intimidation
Teen mobs have brought terror to Ashton(Image: Helen Lawson)
A town in Greater Manchester is reeling after months of ‘feral’ youths “running the streets”, hurling objects at passing cars, throwing food at takeaway customers, riding their bikes between traffic, and smashing up bus stops.
Groups of up to 50 youngsters gather on weekends and turn on residents and staff at local businesses. The teens smoke on the premises and even fling rocks at passers-by.
A night of chaos last Sunday (February 8) forced a KFC to close early in Ashton-in-Makerfield’s Gerard Street. The teen mob was caught in a video now viewed online over 200,000 times, while shocking footage of an attack on a young girl left a local councillor feeling “physically sick”.
Ashton’s nights of terror were livestreamed by Helen Lawson, who has run the local Hel’s Kitchen café for seven years. “Will you leave me alone? Get out of my face,” she pleads with a mob. But the teens just mock her and laugh as they record her back.
Her mobile phone is snatched from her hand and thrown to the floor as she is followed and surrounded. She has ice thrown at her and then a drink. A young boy also imitates a dog to intimidate her.
“This is what is happening in Ashton,” Helen says in her phone video as the mob continues to pursue her.
Police had implemented a dispersal order in Wigan town centre the night before due to a “surge in youth-related anti-social behaviour and unprovoked violent incidents”.
But the chaos in Ashton, a town of 28,000 between Wigan and St Helens, has now sparked calls for urgent action. A KFC was forced to close early two nights in a row as staff were “frightened” of going into work. A glass bus stop was shattered. A mum commented that her daughter had stones thrown at her.
A video shows a young girl being attacked by a group outside a B&M store. She is dragged by her coat and hit repeatedly. Local councillor Danny Fletcher said the footage made him “feel physically sick”.
Children are thought to be arranging the huge meet-ups, some of them travelling from Haydock in Merseyside and Golborne near Warrington.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Helen Lawson said: “I hadn’t had anything like that before… Nothing excuses this behaviour. What are the parents doing?
“These kids think they are untouchable and have no respect. The way they spoke to me and treated me was disgusting. I don’t know what the answer is, they clearly think they can get away with it.”
One woman, who asked not to be identified, said: “Weekend evenings are the worst. I won’t come out of my house on a weekend night now because they are everywhere.
“We are overrun. FarmFoods is like a nightclub, they are causing chaos in KFC. There’s just no respect at all, they think they run the town. They are feral.”
Greater Manchester Police have now put a dispersal order in place. The force said it is increasing patrols and has identified a number of people involved.
Police said they have used dispersal orders and are working with local schools and partners as well as stepping up patrols in the area.
A spokesperson said: “We have identified several people in connection with the investigation and work is ongoing to assess any and all crimes – ensuring that those responsible are dealt with appropriately.”
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