KIDS aged only eight or nine have attacked a wheelchair-bound councillor in Cardigan High Street.

Now local police are being criticised for not reacting quickly enough when the incident was reported to them.

Cllr Ian Stoker was assaulted while on his way from his home to the town council's regular meeting last Tuesday evening.

Still shocked and feeling sick the next day, he told the Tivy-Side: "I was passing Woolworths at about 6.30pm when two kids approached me from the Guildhall side of the road. One of them asked me for 50p. I said no and heard a lot of cursing and swearing behind me. Then I was struck on the back of the neck with a rock. It actually hit me at the top of my spine."

Cllr Stoker, 49, immediately turned his wheelchair to confront his attackers but they ran off down Chancery Lane. He continued on to the meeting, which was held at Antur Teifi in Pendre.

Mayor Wynne Evans, a former police inspector, attempted to call the police as soon as he heard about the assault, but could not get through to local officers.

"I despair with the attitude of the police," he said. "They should have been able to get someone out straight away to look for these kids but I could not get through to the local station. I got some officer in Carmarthen asking all sorts of questions about where Woolworths was.

"I am very angry about their lack of reaction. Someone in Cardigan should take responsibility for this. I feel very sorry for Cllr Stoker."

Cllr Evans went to the police station after the meeting to talk to police about the assault. And later officers spoke to Cllr Stoker about it.

Cllr Stoker said: "I am very shocked.

"One of the kids was no more than eight or nine years old; the other was nine or 10. I feel pretty sick as it is, but I could have been much more seriously hurt. If we had CCTV in the town it might be a deterrent to such behaviour. There seems to be no police presence."

He added: "I was quite frightened by this. I came home on my own after the meeting and there were kids still hanging about in the centre of town.

Cardigan police, who are appealing for witnesses to the assault, say a number of youths were reported to be in the area at the time.

They add: "Dyfed-Powys police would like to reassure the local community that the incident is being thoroughly investigated and that regular high visibility patrols are being carried out in the town centre."

9:30am Tuesday 27th February 2007

Print

Email this