Teenager left petrified after random attack in Strabane

A TEENAGER who was assaulted by a ‘rambling man’ as he made his way home from a friend’s house has been left petrified by the terrifying incident.

Thomas McElwee, aged 14, was walking the short distance to his home just after midnight in the Ballycolman Estate in Strabane.

Sustaining some facial injuries, including a busted lip and a swollen eye his mother Noreen said the incident has had a profound effect on her son.

She explained, “He was up playing the PlayStation in his friend’s house. I rang up to his friend’s mum and said for him to come home – it’s only a four minute walk – and my husband was waiting out at the front for him.

“On the way home a fella approached Thomas, he was acting weird, and rambling, and then he hit Thomas. He doesn’t remember much after that, or know how he got home. He just landed at the door in a state,” she said.

“We took him to A&E and thankfully he is physically okay now. But he’s petrified, he won’t go anywhere without one of us with him, he’s afraid to even go down to the shop. It’s shocking that something like this could happen. It could have been anyone. Thomas was just unfortunate to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Police have appealed for witnesses to the assault which took place around 12.30am on Saturday. The man they are looking for is described as being roughly 20-years-old, about 5’4 in height and wearing a dark hoody. Anyone with information should contact police by calling 101 quoting reference ‘75-06/11/21.

Urging anyone with information to come forward Noreen also extended her thanks to everyone who has offered support to the family since the attack happened.