12-year-old boy needs surgery after being punched in face outside shopping centre

A 12-year-old boy has needed surgery on his face after he was attacked by another young person outside a busy shopping centre.

The child had been at the Braehead Shopping Centre outside Glasgow with friends, but when they left to go to a nearby playground they were chased by a group of teenage boys.

One of the group caught the boy at the stairs near a Krispy Kreme shop, and punched him in what police describe as an “unacceptable” assault.

The attacker is described as being 12 to 13 years of age, 5ft 6ins tall, of slim build and with red hair, which was shaved at the side and longer and combed back on top. He was wearing a black jacket and tracksuit bottoms.

The suspect is believed to have made his way back to the shopping centre, while the victim was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

Police Scotland are investigating the attack, which took place at about 2.30pm on Sunday 12 November.

Detective Constable Laura Watt from Paisley CID said: “This type of violent behaviour is completely unacceptable and enquiries are ongoing to trace the person responsible.

“I would appeal to anyone who was in the Braehead area on Sunday afternoon and may have noticed a group of teenage boys at the rear of the shopping centre, or indeed the assault itself, to please come forward.

Press Association contributed to this report