Mother's horror after gang of teens 'tried to kill' her autistic son

A mother has told how masked teen thugs terrorised and 'tried to kill' her autistic son as they punched and kicked him, stabbed his head and tried to set him on fire with a lighter and deodorant can in an alleged row over a girl.

Horrified Zoey Hallam said the brutal and unprovoked attack has left the 14-year-old schoolboy 'terrified, confused and heartbroken.'

During the onslaught, in which Kayden Khan feared for his life, the victim was forced to get on his hands and knees and kiss the feet of his tormentors whilst saying sorry.

The early evening assault on Wednesday (Oct 30) in a park in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, has left the teenager with huge gashes to his head, bruising to his face, and two black eyes.

'He looks unrecognisable with all the swelling.'

Police investigating the attack have arrested three youths on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm - two boys aged 13 and 14 and a 16-year-old girl.

No charges have been brought and the suspects have been freed on conditional bail by Nottinghamshire Police.

Ms Hallam, 31, has vowed to get justice for her son, telling MailOnline today: 'The scumbags responsible for the attack must be found and charged.'

The mother-of-two and carer for her eldest child said: 'They beat up my son, in my eyes they wanted to kill as as they tried to set light to him, and they stabbed his head with a sharp object, a knife or piece of glass.'

Fighting back tears, she urged: 'There were a gang of them, about 15, and mainly lads but some girls. They were wearing balaclava hoods so they couldn't be recognised.

'I believe each and everyone of them had the intention to kill him. Every single member of that gang knew what they were doing and I will be pushing for the highest charges to be brought.

'They are wicked people and they must be punished.'

'Kayden has mental health issues and is autistic, and hat happened that day he will never forget. It will keep[ replaying in his head over and over again.

'But his has good support from his family and everyone at school is backing him.'

Her son, who was treated in hospital but is now back home in Mansfield and in the middle of a two-week half term break, was set upon by the gang at around 5.35pm on Wednesday at Ladybrook Park in Armstrong Road.

It is understood he knew some of his attackers and his mother believes it was triggered by the ex-boyfriend of Hayden's current girlfriend.

Reliving her son's ordeal Ms Hallam said: 'I got a call from the police saying that he had been stabbed but was OK and had gone for help at a shop near the park.

'I later learned he had been kicked and punched, and his hair had been sprayed with deodorant and he was being threatened with being set on fire.

'He was also stabbed in the head by a gang wearing balaclava style face coverings.

'I am told it was all over a girl that my son is now seeing and her ex boyfriend didn't like it so he got his older brother and mates to confront him and beat him up.'

She added: 'During the attack, which lasted a few minutes, they made my son get on is hands and knees, kiss their shoes, and say sorry, as a sign of respect.

'They proper degraded and humiliated him. He is gutted and embarrassed by that, he had to do it, as he was worried for his life. He is terrified, confused and heartbroken.'

Ms Hallam told her hurt and bleeding son had fled with his girlfriend, and two other pals, to a near shop to get help.

She said: 'A member of staff at Heron Foods raised the alarm and luckily police were already nearby at the scene looking for a wanted man in a pub in an unrelated incident.'

The mother praised the shop and emergency services for helping her son.,

She said that her son - who has a one-year-old baby brother and is estranged from his real dad but has a loving step dad - was now seeking counselling for his trauma.

Ms Hallam continued: 'We are all extremely shocked by what happened and, as a family, are doing everything to help Kayden heal and mend, but he will need some therapy.

'He has health issues, he lost his beloved grandad during the pandemic, and at times he struggles.

'This horrible attack has added to all his woes. He is devastated, as his family and friends are.'

She told how a fundraiser had been set up to help the family seek a private counsellor if an NHS option was not available.

She said some money raised would initially pay for a new replacement £150 Nike Tech fleece for her son.

She told how the pricey sportswear item he had been wearing when he was attacked was 'bloodied and damaged, and taken away by police for DNA evidence.'

Ms Hallam added: 'I have my doubts but I hope police find the culprits and charge them, right now I have little faith in the system.

'They must be stopped from doing it again, and I will be putting pressure on the police.'

Police are appealing for witnesses as part of their ongoing inquiries into the assault.

The said the victim suffered a cut to his head and bruising to his face and body. His injuries are not currently believed to be life-threatening.

Officers have arrested two boys, aged 13 and 14, and a 16-year-old girl in connection with the incident.

The 13-year-old was detained on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

The 14-year-old was arrested on suspicion of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and the 16-year-old was detained on suspicion of encouraging / assisting in the commission of an indictable only offence and possession of cannabis.

Detective Sergeant Rachel Mayfield, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: 'We currently believe this was a targeted attack on the victim involving individuals who are known to each other.

'While we have made three arrests in connection with our ongoing investigation, we are actively pursuing lines of inquiry, including trawling through CCTV footage, to identify a number of outstanding offenders.

'Although we are treating this as a targeted attack, reassurance patrols have been increased in the area as a precaution.

'As we continue with our inquiries, I am urging anyone who was in the area who saw what happened or has any information that could assist our investigation, including anyone who may have recorded CCTV, dashcam, doorbell, or mobile phone footage, to please call us on 10.'

You can donate to a fundraiser for Kayden here.