A FRIGHTENED Ipswich youngster has today spoken out about the bullies plaguing his life.The 12-year-old has been left so tormented by the group of youths who physically and verbally abuse him that he wishes to be identified using only his first name, fearing future reprisals.

A FRIGHTENED Ipswich youngster has today spoken out about the bullies plaguing his life.

The 12-year-old has been left so tormented by the group of youths who physically and verbally abuse him that he wishes to be identified using only his first name, fearing future reprisals.

The trouble started when Matthew, who suffers with Cystic Fibrosis, was given a dog for Christmas and began walking in Landseer Park.

Since then the youngsters who congregate in the area have been jeering him and his sister for picking up their pet's mess.

He said: "They call me and my sister names and chuck stuff at us. They have been throwing sticks and stones at us since we started walking together.

"They have a go at us for picking the mess up."

Matthew claims that a group of about 25 youngsters aged between ten and 14 have been tormenting him and his sister for about two months.

But the youngster, who lives in East Ipswich, doesn't answer back even though the abuse hurts him.

The worst incident left Matthew in need of medical attention after he was hit several times in the face.

But his dad claims that the youngsters even started swearing at the paramedics who were trying to help.

Matthew said: "My dog had run off down to the car park where the group of kids were playing in a puddle. They started calling me and my sister names and a girl started swearing at us. She said to stop having a go at her friends but we weren't, then she said to get out of the park because it was hers."

Matthew claims that another girl then approached him and his sister and told the girl picking on them to leave the pair alone.

He added: "But the girl said we had better hurry up and leave because her friends were coming up. One of the boys pushed me and then punched me."

Matthew then claims he was hit several more times and suffered what could be a fractured cheek.

Matthew could not fight back but did tell the youngster not to push him.

His sister was also unable to stop the assault although his dog managed to split the two boys up by growling if anyone went near him.

After the assault Matthew was dazed and could not get up so his sister called their dad and the ambulance service.

Matthew's dad said: "I went over and they started taunting me, they even swore at the paramedic who told them to step back. This is what society is like now. The kids around here even tried to steal the dog when he was a puppy.

"We had park wardens when I was a kid, the cost of calling out paramedics and police is probably the week's wages of a warden."

A ten-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the incident last month and reprimanded by police. No further action was taken.

n. What do you think of Matthew's plight? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN.