A TEENAGE girl had a terrifying welcome to Huddersfield.
She was attacked by a masked gang just minutes after arriving in the town to visit family.
Young thugs tried to steal Emily Reynolds’ bag at Lockwood Scar, Newsome.
The 17-year-old had just arrived in Huddersfield for the first time to visit family.
Emily said: “I went outside to get some fresh air and I was sitting on a bench when I saw this gang of six teenagers coming towards me.
“They were all wearing masks. I thought ‘Oh my God’.
“One of them tried to take my bag. I just thought ‘what is happening?’. I’d only been there two seconds.
“That was my first impression of Huddersfield.”
Emily’s step-father Tony Duke, 53, came running out of the house.
He said: “I saw they were trying to take Emily’s bag. I think they were aged between 14 and 16.
“As I came towards them they tried to kick and punch me. Then one of them hit me over the head with a piece of wood.”
One of the youths then picked up a chain which was lying across the drive.
Tony said: “He was swinging it and then he lashed out with it and hit me on the neck.”
Tony, who was bruised in the attack, chased the gang along Lockwood Scar. He then called the police.
The attack happened at about 9pm on Sunday.
Tony had brought Emily and his son Steve, 15, from Kent. They are spending the week with Tony’s mother Molly, 83.
Tony, who left Lockwood 25 years ago, believes the area has gone downhill. He said: “I didn’t expect something like this to happen here. The place I remember was a nice community. There was community spirit and everyone looked out for each other but I think this is lacking now.
“I think it’s sad that kids do this sort of thing. It seems to be happening more and more because of the breakdown of society.”
