A TENNANT Creek grandmother who was bashed as she walked home last Friday says local youth are out of control.
Jane Forrester, 51, and her friend Marie Banasiak had been to see a band at the Goldfields Hotel.
They had just crossed the road when a young man stood in front of her in an attempt to block her path.
“I said ‘Come on, move along’,” she said.
“He responded by telling me he was the new gangster of Tennant Creek.
“Then without warning he shoved me in the chest which caused me to fall back onto the pavement.
“As I was picking myself up he kicked me in the chest and as I fell I cracked the back of my head on the concrete garden edging.”
Ms Forrester said the wound bled profusely so she continued on her way home, a couple of blocks away.
Her husband took her up to the hospital and she reported the matter to police the following day.
Ms Forrester, who has lived in Tennant Creek for two years, said she has overcome the shock of the incident but is feeling really angry.
“I have been walking wherever I want since I was 14 and nothing like this has ever happened,” she said.
“I’m really furious about it.
“But for some time groups of people have been hanging on corners intimidating passers-by.
“I am sick of ringing the local police who are just two doors down from me, I’m sick of ignoring the yelling, shouting, and public urination.
“I’ve also had enough of watching people play chicken with road trains on the highway and seeing mothers drag tired, screaming children along the street with them at all hours as they yell and curse at them.
“I guess getting bashed by a young thug was to be expected.
“It has certainly showed me that it’s not safe to walk a short way up the street to have a few drinks at the local pub.
“ You can give me the Hells Angels, Finks and their like any time because they don’t attack grandmothers who are walking home at night.
“But I can’t say that much for Tennant Creek’s young people.”
Police have called for any witnesses to contact them on 131444.
They are looking for an Aboriginal male aged between 16 and 18 years old, approximately 175 cm tall.
He was wearing a black baseball cap and a white hooded top with a black and white diamond pattern.