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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Ruby Davies & Steven Smith

'Children got out their phones to film pre-planned attack on my son'

A mum has alleged that children got out their phones to film a pre-planned attack on her son at school. Katie Gidman has slammed the school, saying her son Kenzon Mason, 14, was "knocked out in an attack by another pupil".

She said he was pushed before being punched and having his head stamped on. Kenzo was taken to hospital and was left with bruising and swelling on the side of his cheek after Monday's attack, reports StokeonTrentLive.

Katie has now claimed it was the fourth such assault on Kenzo on school premises within a year. She has informed the police. Further, she said the latest attack appeared to be pre-planned as other children pulled out their phones to film it.

Katie, 35, from Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, said she received a call from the school, St Peter's Academy, to say her son had been 'kicked in the face'. She added: "He said at break time he was walking along the path and some kids already had their phones out when a boy pushed him. My son got him in a headlock, but the boy punched him in the head twice and stamped on his head three times.

"He's got bruising and swelling and we had a four-hour trip to the hospital to check him over because he was knocked unconscious. They checked all his vitals, made sure he could walk in a straight line and gave him pain relief.

"I don't know the boy who did it, but we've been down to school and they've had his parents in. Apparently it was something to do with name calling, it's absolutely disgusting. After the video of the attack was shared, I called the police."

The latest incident comes after StokeonTrentLive reported on another St Peter's pupil being attacked last month. Katie has criticised St Peter's for its handling of such assaults.

She added "The school is absolutely hopeless. It's not the first time he's been attacked, it's the fourth.

"They didn't even ring me, my son's friend called and told me he was being kicked and punched. Then the first aider rang me half an hour later and said they were sending him home.

"They said I'd get a phone call when school finished at 3pm, but I had to go in the following morning because nobody rang. I just had a text asking why my son wasn't in school."

Katie says Kenzo decided to return to school the following day after learning that the pupil responsible had been excluded. But she is constantly worried about him and is now forced to drop him off and collect him amid fears he could be attacked outside the school gates.

The mum-of-four added: "At 14 years old, the school is only five minutes away from the house, he should be able to walk. I shouldn't have to be collecting him. I fear that one day he could be coming home in a body bag.

"I've spoken to him a few times about moving schools, but all of his friends are at St Peter's. His older sister is also at the school, but I won't be sending my younger children there, not a chance."

Police confirmed they were investigating a report of an assault. A Staffordshire Police spokesperson said: "At 6pm on January 9 we received a report of an assault in Fenton.

"Earlier in the day, a teenage boy was attacked by another group of boys, who are believed to be between 13 and 14 years old, at an address on City Road. The victim, aged 14, was reportedly knocked unconscious and suffered injuries to his head and face."

StokeonTrentLive has contacted St Peter's Academy for a statement. Anyone with information can contact Staffordshire Police on 101, or report online at the website, quoting incident number 557 of January 9.

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