The furious mother of a man beaten up by a mob of yobs on Brentwood High Street has demanded police action to sweep the teenage troublemakers from the town centre.

The 21-year-old victim and a friend were walking towards the Litten Tree pub at around half past nine on the night of Friday, March 24 when they came across a crowd of youngsters aged between 13 and 16.

He claims that as they passed, a group of youths split away from the rest and without provocation began verbally abusing the two men, eventually punching the victim in the face and pushing him to the ground.

The youths crowded around their victim, and as he lay curled into a ball on the ground, they started kicking him.

When they eventually made off, the victim - who escaped with cuts and bruises - called the police, who were on the scene within minutes. A search of the High Street failed to identify those responsible.

The attack came just days after Brentwood Police vowed to clampdown on drink-fueled teenage violence in the town centre, with threats of by-passing cautions and sending offenders straight to court or of barring them from the area.

But the mother of the latest victim, who does not want to be named, is convinced that the High Street will never be safe until youths are prevented from gathering in large numbers.

She said on Tuesday: "Quite honestly I am just fed up with all. I just feel really angry that you can't walk down Brentwood High Street at the weekend without worrying that you are going to be jumped on.

"The police are fully aware of the gangs that hang around there on Friday and Saturday nights, but they don't seem to be doing anything about it.

"I don't know what the answer is, but obviously we need more policing on the High Street. Where are all the bobbies on the beat we keep hearing about."

She is now planning to write to the Chief Constable of Essex, David Stevens, to inform him of her concerns.

Sgt Brian Murnaghan of Brentwood Police said: "We know that young people congregate in the town centre, especially on Friday and Saturday nights, and that it does cause concern for a lot of local residents.

"But we are endeavouring to do all we can to ensure that there is a police presence at those times, and there was definitely such a presence last weekend."

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