Child pack attacks
A GANG of thugs as young as 12 slashed Wayne Robson's chest and bashed his partner during a violent robbery early yesterday morning.
Describing the mugging as both frightening and bizarre, Mr Robson said one of the boys returned his empty wallet and introduced himself as the pack' "leader" following the attack outside the Balaclava Hotel.
"He was barely 12 years old," the 43-year-old pensioner said.
"He actually said the words - they do as I say."
The pair were returning home from the pub after a night of drinking and playing the poker machines when at least eight children hassled them for money and cigarettes about 1.45am.
"They sort of flanked around us and wielded a knife and demanded even more," Mr Robson said.
"They grabbed my partner, threw him to the ground and started punching him violently, kicking.
"The knife struck me in my chest lightly and then I realised they were quite serious about what they were doing."
Mr Robson managed to break free of the gang but ran back to help his injured partner, 37, whose wallet was stolen. They were still in severe shock when a youngster returned the wallet and asked for one with money in it.
The boy said he was the gang's leader and that he had called the rest of the pack off.
Mr Robson said he feared for his life, despite thinking at first that the group looked too young to be dangerous.
"I felt absolutely humiliated and foolish to be threatened by children and when the knife came out I thought, 'You can't be serious - you're just a kid'," he said.
He said staff at the Balaclava Hotel told him some of the boys had loitered at the door and targeted them.
Mr Robson said he had no doubt the gang had previously struck at Earlville.
"(Judging by) the way this was conducted and the skill of the whole thing, it wouldn't have been their first attempt, put it that way," he said.
"They're organised."
Mr Robson escaped with only a light slash mark on his chest but his partner was bruised, scratched and barely able to move yesterday.
Police last night were still hunting the gang, all of whom were of Aboriginal appearance and aged between 12
and 14.
Anyone with information on the robbery should call Cairns CIB on 4030 7153 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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Shaken: Wayne Robson shows the knife mark inflicted by a gang of violent robbers as young as 12.
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