A TEENAGER is too scared to leave the house after being terrorised by neighbourhood bullies.

Craig Arnold, 14, of Fernland Close, Middleleaze, sees himself as a prisoner in his own home for the rest of the Easter holidays.

He was attacked on February 13 during the half-term break when he was cornered by three bigger boys who beat him up.

This was reported to the police and Craig had to give a video statement.

But then on the first day of the Easter holidays, he was cornered again by the same bullies when he was out playing with his remote controlled car.

The boys started to push him around and surrounded him but fortunately a member of the public managed to intervene before anything more serious could happen.

And his mother, Sandy, has now put in an official complaint to the police as to why nothing has been done.

The 48-year-old, who runs her own cleaning and ironing business, is worried that if something is not done about the bullies soon, someone will get seriously hurt.

Bradon Forest pupil Craig said: "I was up at Peatmoor the first time and they just attacked me, calling me names. I'm a lot smaller than they are so they must have seen me as an easy target.

"They're about the same age and I know them from school, but at school we just ignore each other. There were three of them the first time and they repeatedly hit me. I ended up with bruises all over me and a black eye."

The most recent occasion was last Saturday when Craig and a friend were playing with their remote control cars in Peatmoor Park.

"We saw the group of boys, including the ones we had seen before," Craig said.

"I just said to my friend run for it' so we picked up our cars and sprinted, but I was caught by one of the gang.

"He started pushing me around and then the rest of his gang caught up and surrounded me.

"I was really scared that they were going to beat me up again, but then an adult came along and split it up.

"I feel angry now. This is the second holiday in a row that they have ruined. I'm now too scared to go out on my own in case they see me."

His mother has now written an official letter of complaint to Wiltshire police.

She said: "The police haven't done a thing. These thugs are still wandering the streets terrorising neighbourhood kids.

"Bradon Forest School have been brilliant and there is never any trouble there. It just seems to start as soon as there is holiday time.

"I've been around to see one of the bullies' mothers but they don't seem to know what to do about their own kid.

"I want other parents in the area to know that there are a violent gang of kids out there preying on the vulnerable. It's awful."

People in Peatmoor Park yesterday said they had not seen any trouble from young gangs.

A Swindon police spokesman said: "On Saturday, April 1, Swindon police received a report of assault on a 14-year-old boy from the West Swindon area. Police inquiries are continuing."