Officials reassure residents Minehead is safe after assault on teenage boy

The 14-year-old was walking along Parkhouse Road past the entrance to Parks Walk when he was approached by a man at about 9.30pm.

The man, described as smelling of tobacco and alcohol, grabbed the teenager and tried to pull him off the footpath after a brief conversation.

The boy retaliated, broke free and ran home.

Police have described the offender as white with a tanned complexion, between 5ft 8ins and 5ft 10ins tall, and dressed in a black hoodie and black trousers.

Town councillor David Archer, who represents the central ward where Parkhouse Road is situated, said: “This isn’t normally something that happens in Minehead.

“The town has the second lowest crime rate in the UK and we have a successful rate in catching criminals.

“I hope this is an isolated incident and I have every faith in the police to catch the perpetrator.”

The most recent crime figures show that just 37 crimes in Minehead were investigated by the police in December, 2014, compared to 44 in the same month the year before.

In the Parkhouse Road area, only one crime – criminal damage and arson – was recorded in December, 2014, which is down on the three crimes recorded there a year earlier.

Statistics also show that over the year from January to December, 2014, antisocial behaviour made up just over 46% of all the crime committed in Minehead.

Minehead resident and West Somerset councillor Mandy Chilcott said she could not recall any incidents of this nature in the area.

She said: “Not much crime is committed in Minehead because there’s no easy way of getting out of town. “It’s certainly not a regular occurrence – not something we see in Minehead.

“My thoughts are with the victim and I hope they catch the person responsible in this small town.”

If you saw the incident or know who the suspect might be, call PC 1503 Chris Dight at Minehead Police Station on 101, quoting reference number 18378/15, or call Crimestoppers free and anonymously on 0800-555111.