Horrifying footage shows autistic schoolboy being punched to the ground in Blackpool

This is the horrifying moment an autistic teenager was punched and kicked to the ground on his way home from school.

Unity Academy Blackpool pupil Leon Hyham, 13, was chased down and attacked as he tried to take refuge in a stranger’s driveway on Monday.

The helpless boy cowered and screamed ‘get away from me’ as his much taller attacker booted him and threw a flurry of punches at his head. 

Leon’s mother, Joanne Savage, said her ‘gentle and soft spoken’ son has been getting physically attacked and bullied since he started high school because he’s autistic and struggles socially. 

She said: ‘He’s been going through crap like this at school since starting high school. 

‘He was only moved to this school in September and staff have been fantastic trying to help but with him being different he does get a lot of teasing.

His grey-hooded attacker throws a kick and a flurry of punches at the autistic boy 

‘This particular occasion – from what I have been told by passersby – they [his attackers] seem to have pre-planned the attack.’

Leon was left with bruises and cuts after the beating. His mother said the parents of the ‘bully’ saw the clip, which was circulated hundreds of times on Facebook, and have punished their son.

Ms Savage said: ‘The bully’s mum seen the video online she marched the lad to the school and made him be accountable for his actions.

‘So I’m happy that as a mother she did right by my son. Leon has received a lot of support now the awareness of his abuse has been raised in the public eye.

‘The boy in question is being dealt with by the police and and the school. His own family are the ones that have frog marched him to the school this morning to face the consequences.’ 

Ms Savage said she hopes the footage will encourage parents to teach their children about ‘respect and inclusion’. 

Leon is left in a crumpled heap on the floor after the attack in Blackpool on Monday 

‘If this makes one person stop and think about what is going on with kids these days – and how lads like my son suffer at the hands of bullies – and speak to there kids about respect and inclusion then it’s worth it.’ 

MailOnline has approached Lancashire Constabulary for comment. 

The video was shared 500 times on Facebook and 230 comments. Keyleigh Abbott said: ‘Vile, I hope the boy’s okay.’

Leon’s mother said her boy has been physically bullied since moving schools in September

Mary-Dee Thompson wrote: ‘Absolutely vile poor lad hope he gets what he deserves.’ 

Caitlan Tyler-Henderson commented: ‘Too many kids like this thinking attacking somebody who’s got a problem is funny.

‘Really they are only targeting them because if they went for somebody else without this poor boy’s condition he’d get thrown all over. Nasty little goons!’