Teenager filmed 14 attacks with mobile phone (From This Is Local London)

Teenager filmed 14 attacks with mobile phone

12:22pm Wednesday 22nd February 2006 in

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POLICE have released graphic footage of sickening "happy slap" assaults filmed with a London teenager's mobile phone.

Police found 14 violent assaults on the 17-year-old's phone, which Barking and Dagenham Borough officers say had been deliberately staged by the Hainault teenager.

The phone was seized as part of an investigation into the murder of Triston Christmas in Dagenham, on January 29 last year.

Triston was attacked in Marks Gate shortly after meeting with a group of teenagers. One of the group, Gary Roper, 18, hit Triston, for which he was jailed for 30 months. It was alleged by witnesses that the incident was filmed by youngsters on their mobile phones.

"There is nothing amusing about the attacks and every victim is visibly distressed."

Detective chief inspector Ellie O'Connor

Several mobile phones were seized as part of the investigation and whilst no footage featuring Triston was discovered, several other videoed assaults were discovered.

Investigating officers released seven of the most serious assaults, in the hope that the victims will come forward to pursue investigations.

The first image titled 'bike' reveals at least two teenagers hiding behind a line of parked cars waiting for a passing cyclist. As a woman on a bike appears in the distance one of the youngsters jumps out and strikes the woman, knocking her from the bike. She falls over the handlebars of the bike and lands in the middle of the road.

The second shows a man in a white t-shirt being encouraged to walk towards the phone. As he approaches he is punched in the face before the filming group walk away laughing.

A third film reveals two young men, possibly foreign students, being approached and asked a question before a youngster jumps up and kicks them both in the face.

The fourth incident involves a man in his 20s being asked by a group of teenagers to place his hands behind his back. As he complies one of the group slaps him across the face.

A fifth image reveals a group of teenagers taunting and mugging a young man outside of a block of flats. When they have taken his possessions they slap him and leave the scene laughing.

The sixth image shows a schoolboy aged between 13 and 16 being asked to look at the camera. One of the attacking group is heard counting down from ten before the schoolboy is slapped across the face.

The final image titled 'Boss Man' shows a group of youngsters asking a man the time. As he attempts to answer one of the group slaps him in the face. When the stunned man attempts to quiz his attackers he is struck again before the group run away laughing.

Detective Chief Inspector Ellie O'Connor said: "Every phone incident captured is incredibly violent which is why we are classing these as serious assaults. There is nothing amusing about the attacks and every victim is visibly distressed. We are keen to trace each victim to ensure that those responsible do not go unpunished.

"It is thought that most of these filmed attacks happened in either north or east London. We are sure that local people will recognise their flats or their street and we urge them to come forward. We are looking to build up a complete picture of the attacks to allow us to investigate further and prevent any future incidents."