COUNTY NEWS: Teen given death threats and hit with brick in horrific attack

The teen, who asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons, said the incident took place along Lambs Farm Road in Horsham on the evening of Sunday May 29.

The 18-year-old said he had just dropped his girlfriend off after attending a barbecue in the area and was walking back to his home at around 9.45pm.

He said: “I had just got on Lambs Farm Road when a man approached me from Willow Road and crossed the road staring straight at me with no emotion.

“Immediately I crossed over the road in the hope that he wasn’t trying to approach me. He then changed path and started walking next to me. At first he told me that he just wanted to walk with me and asked me where I was going to which I replied home. I then noticed that in one hand he had a piece of rubble and something about five inches long wrapped up in some rags which I assumed was a knife.”

He said the pair continued walking and he was told the man came from Guildford and that people from Crawley were watching him and “were going to get him”.

“He then told me to keep walking and don’t look back or he would kill me,” the teenager said.

“I did as he said since he was clearly of a certain build which I thought would be able to outrun me if I attempted to run.

“He then hit me in the back of the head with the brick. I immediately tried to get to the nearest house but before I could ring the bell he shouted to get back there or once again he would kill me.”

The victim said he did as he was told and continued walking with the attacker without realising what damage had been done to his head. I kept walking and he told me he didn’t want to hurt me and wouldn’t as long as I did as he said.

“I could feel the blood coming from the back of my head running down my back and then he realised how hard he had hit me.”

The pair got to the middle of the road near the entrance to White Horse Road.

The teenager said he was then offered the brick by the attacker. “He still had the object which I assumed was a knife in his other hand. Once I had it he told me I could hit him with it if I wanted to which I did not do.”

The victim said a white Volkswagen Polo then drove past and he attempted to stop the car for help by standing in the road. It swerved around him and drove off.

“After this the attacker told me I shouldn’t of done that and started to run away down White Horse Lane. In the distance he shouted if you tell anyone I’ll find and kill you.

“As soon as he was out of sight I ran to my girlfriend’s house and on the way called the police. I was taken to Redhill Hospital and given stitches to fix the wound.”

Police are investigating the incident.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “The suspect is described as a white man aged about 20, about 6ft, of muscular build, with short brown hair and a beard. He was wearing a black T-shirt with orange flames on the front and back, and black skinny jeans.

“Police would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the incident, particularly the driver of a white Volkswagen Polo which slowed down but continued driving.

“Anyone with any information is asked to contact [email protected] or call 101, quoting serial 1672 of 29/05.”

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