Shocked mum sees video of 12 year-old son’s beating on Facebook

A HORRIFIED MOTHER has described her fury after a video of her 12-year-old son being beaten up by a teenager was posted on Facebook.
Josh Cooper, 12 with mum Tracy, from Rotherham. Picture: Ross Parry AgencyJosh Cooper, 12 with mum Tracy, from Rotherham. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
Josh Cooper, 12 with mum Tracy, from Rotherham. Picture: Ross Parry Agency

The distressing video, filmed on mobile phones by the thugs who attacked him, shows schoolboy Josh Cooper wrestled to the ground before being punched repeatedly around his head as he curled up to protect himself.

As a mob of teenage boys and girls - believed to be 40-strong - callously film the attack, Josh can be heard screaming and crying on the pavement in a town centre during daylight.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The video began with Josh’s 15-year-old attacker, wearing an orange T-shirt and tracksuit bottoms, walking across the street to confront Josh.

Josh’s friend, wearing a purple top, can be seen trying to defend him, but another boy pushed him violently to the ground, leaving the attacker free to hit Josh - whilst several girls ran from the scene

Josh tried to run away but the attacker chased him down the road. He threw him on the ground before viciously punching him on both sides of his head 23 times. The attacker then ran from the scene.

The video ends with a cowering Josh holding his head in his hands and whimpering.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Cruelly, after the attack, a 12-year-old girl posted the video on her Facebook page, where it was viewed by Josh’s mother Tracy.

Student midwife Miss Cooper, 32, said: “Josh was just minding his own business. The boy who did the attack said that Josh had been slagging off his Mum, but that wasn’t true. He did it because he was bored.

“I first found out about the attack when Josh phoned me from his friend’s house afterwards. He was in a right state and had already called an ambulance.

“Then I saw the video had been posted on Facebook, it was unbelievable. The girl who posted it was only 12.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“You can see it was a pre-meditated attack because the video starts before the attack begins. You can even see another 16-year-old lad holding down one of Josh’s friends who tried to stop the attack.

“It was just horrifying to see that happening to my son. Josh’s dad, Glen, can’t even bring himself to watch the video.”

The attack, which happened in Wath, South Yorkshire, at the start of September, left Josh bruised and battered. He was taken to Rotherham General Infirmary and whilst he was discharged on the same evening, he was left concussed.

Mother-of-four Miss Cooper is furious that passer-bys can clearly be seen on the video to ignore the attack. One woman can be seen to glance over but moved on quickly, whilst another simply walked past a crying Josh without a second look.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She said that one passer-by had got in touch via an intermediary to say how ashamed he was of not helping Josh. South Yorkshire Police cautioned the boy after the attack but Miss Cooper said that is not enough.

The video is no longer on Facebook after Miss Cooper encouraged friends and family to report it, and Wath Comprehensive have told pupils they must delete the video from their phones.