Attack victim says youths intimidate

The victim of a daylight attack by two teenagers outside the Blenheim Library says the number of youths who congregate by the courtyard outside can be intimidating for other library users.

The Blenheim man was attacked by two teenagers about noon on Friday after refusing to give one of them a cigarette.

He told the police he did not want to press charges, but the teenagers should be warned and told not to loiter in the area.

"I don't see the point [in laying charges]. It's a waste of my time," the man said.

"The only issue is that they [youths] make it uncomfortable to use the library.

"If you're at those seats [outside the library], you've got 10 to 20 kids around you."

The man was sitting on a bench outside the library talking on his cellphone when the teenager asked for a smoke. When he told the teenager to leave, the boy took his shirt off and said he wanted to fight.

The man pushed the teenager away and made another phone call. The teenager returned a short time later with a friend.

One of the teenagers threw the first punch in the attack, which lasted about five minutes.

The man suffered minor grazes after being held on the ground and kicked several times, but was able to fight back.

The teenager who asked for the cigarette suffered a bleeding nose and mouth.

The man said while the attack was "annoying", the teenagers might have been a danger if the victims had been tourists.

Constable Michelle Stagg, of Blenheim, said the police apprehended one of the youths soon after the fight.

Both were under 17 and would not be charged over the incident, she said.

Marlborough District Libraries manager Glenn Webster said the library courtyard had become popular with teenagers during the past few months after they were moved out of Market Place.

He and police were working to move the groups away from the library, so people could use it without problems, he said.

"That sort of behaviour is unacceptable in any public space and we would not tolerate [it]."

Mr Webster said he had the power to trespass people from the site if necessary.

SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 13:01 29/11/2010