This shocking picture shows the battered face of an innocent schoolboy beaten so savagely by ‘shameless’ thugs his own mother barely recognised him.

The 15-year old slightly built lad was confronted in the street and punched and kicked ‘like a human football’ in what police fear was a case of mistaken identity.

The 15-year-old innocent boy was so viciously attacked by a gang of men in Manchester his mother barely recognised him

He and his friends had earlier been chatting outside a row of shops in Manchester on a Saturday afternoon when the gang of 12 men drew up in three cars.

The boys scattered, but the victim was targeted and chased down a nearby street before being repeatedly punched and kicked ‘like a human football.
He suffered severe facial injuries which required stitches and a broken arm.
Today police said the beating was linked to a feud between rival gangs but confirmed the unnamed boy was not involved and simply was in the ‘wrong place at the wrong time.’

They issued a shocking picture of the boy’s injuries in the hope of getting information to catch the attackers.
A 15-year-old girl was also hit in the face and suffered a fractured cheekbone and other facial injuries.
The boy’s mother said: ‘I barely recognised my boy when I saw him, such were the extent of the injuries to his face. I cannot believe that a bunch of grown men would attack an innocent teenage boy like this.
‘He was not involved in any sort of trouble but yet they waded in with their fists and weapons and didn’t give him any chance to respond or defend himself.’
The incident occurred at about 2.20pm last Saturday when the three cars pulled up on Briscoe Lane, Newton Heath district of North Manchester.
The boy was attacked by up to four men who chased him onto Harringay Road.
The yobs then got back into their cars – a silver Peugeot 306, a black Volkswagen Passat and a dark coloured Vauxhall Astra – and drove off along Briscoe Lane towards Ten Acres Lane.

Two cars, one black, one silver (circled), drive on to the pavement before the assault begins

Heart stopping CCTV pictures showed the gang bringing afternoon traffic grinding to a halt as they raced away – some with car doors open so their accomplices could jump in.
Greater Manchester Police said they believed the incident may be linked to a dispute the previous evening in the Newton Heath area however neither the boy or injured girl were involved.
Det Con Paddy Connell said: ‘Their actions were shameless and shocking and I want people to look at the injuries to the boy’s face and if they know anything to come forward.
One of the thugs is described as being between 30 and 35 years old, of heavy/muscular build, tanned and wearing a beige top and beige trousers.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 3832, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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