Sheffield children left scared after Endcliffe Park attacks, say families

Many of the alleged attacks are said to have happened in the Endcliffe Park area of Sheffield

Children have been living in fear after a series of muggings near a city park, families have claimed to the BBC.

Victims said they had been pulled to the ground by their hair and had their phones stolen during the recent incidents at Endcliffe Park, Sheffield.

The attacks were alleged to have been carried out by members of one family over the last nine months, a public meeting heard.

The family had since been moved, police told residents at the meeting.

Schools had written to parents warning them not to allow children to walk around the area on their own.

It had followed a series of attacks which had left young people injured and items stolen.

At a meeting last Wednesday attended by more than 100 people, some living in the area criticised the response from authorities.

'Let down'

One mother said she was angry with the police and local council, adding she felt guilty at allowing her daughter to walk "10 minutes to her grandmother's house".

Moments later, she had a call telling her "she'd been attacked, dragged to the ground by her hair".

"Why has nothing been done, why have these innocent children been let down by authorities?" she asked police and council representatives.

Speaking to the BBC, one unnamed resident said the family alleged to be causing the issues had "intimidated" him for over nine months.

"It's affected my sleep and anxiety levels. I never know if I walk past the house, the children will be spitting at you, throwing things at you. It's quite distressing," he said.

'Broke my glasses'

A teenage girl alleged she had been attacked after being approached by members of the family.

"I tried to ignore her but she grabbed my hair and dragged me to the ground.

"They kicked me on the floor and stole my phone and broke my glasses."

A boy said he now avoided the park "in case it happens again", adding "it's pretty scary".

Insp Amy Mellor, of South Yorkshire Police, reassured residents that the "family had been moved out of Sheffield and were no longer living within 15 miles of Endcliffe Park".

The area was one of "the safest in Sheffield" with investigations ongoing, added Insp Gareth Thomas.

Lorraine Wood, interim director of communities at Sheffield City Council, said representatives attended the meeting to "listen to their accounts and concerns so we can work with them and offer reassurance that they are being heard".

"As a council we take all instances of anti-social behaviour seriously. We encourage anyone who falls victim to such incidents to continue to report them to the authorities so that a complete picture can be built."