A young boy has been assaulted and robbed - for the sake of one Pokemon card.

Jonathan Weedon was left winded and upset after the attack outside shops close to his Wickford home.

The assault has shocked his mother, Lisa, who now fears the craze is getting out of hand.

Ten-year-old Jonathan was approached as he unwrapped a set of the expensive trading cards, which had been bought for him by his gran.

He was delighted when he found a rare Charizard card contained within the pack. The card can change hands for up to £25.

Jonathan, a pupil of Oakfield Primary School in Scott Drive, was approached by a boy aged around 14 who asked to see the card. As he showed it to him, the older youth grabbed it, punched Jonathan in the stomach and ran off.

Mrs Weedon said her son was left in "a real state".

She added: "Jonathan was winded - but he was more upset at losing the card. I think it's all getting a bit out of hand."

Last week a £3,000 haul of counterfeit Pokemons was found in a Basildon town centre shop and two more batches seized from a bootsale at Barleylands.

Upset - Jonathan Weedon with his mum Lisa, who was left winded by the attack, all for the sake of a Pokemon card

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.