Cruel trick for little Hannah

A FURIOUS mother today told how a gang of cruel children spoiled Hallowe'en for her young autistic daughter when they stole the sweets she had collected while trick or treating.

Twelve-year-old Hannah Johnson had been out collecting sweets with a friend in the Bramford Lane area at about 7pm last night when she was set upon by the group of five children dressed in masks.

They stole her bucket of sweets and left the Westbourne High School student in tears and suffering nightmares.

Today her mother, Isabel Johnson, of Bramford Lane, told how her daughter was set upon while out with a friend, also 12.

Mrs Johnson, a dinner lady at Belstead Special School, said: “The other little girl's mum and dad were around in the area when it happened.

“Within half an hour or so of Hannah leaving she came back with the girl's parents and she was really upset.

“There were two older boys and three smaller children, including one girl. They just grabbed the bucket and off they went.

“She said she thought the children were just going to take the sweets. She said she wouldn't have minded that because she likes to share.”

The bucket was found today discarded in a nearby park.

Hannah was left so traumatised by what happened that she had a nightmare afterwards and now Mrs Johnson is reluctant to let her daughter out again without her.

She said: “Everybody wants you to give children like Hannah with autism a bit more independence instead of trying to smother them like I usually do. I don't often let her out and I wish I hadn't.”

A Suffolk Police spokeswoman said there had been a slight fall in the number of incidents related to unruly behaviour during Hallowe'en this year.

Most incidents related to egg throwing, door kicking or similar disorderly and nuisance behaviour.