Woman tells of brother's horrific gang attack outside Wood End shop

“I don’t think he would have survived it if he had taken another kick to the head,” sister tells Telegraph



A Coventry woman has spoken of her fear at leaving the house after a gang attacked her brother “like a pack of lions”.

Anna-Marie Nilsson, 52, told the Telegraph that she and her brother, Karl Nilsson, endured the ten-minute attack as they left a shop on Hillmorton Road in Wood End, which she believes could have killed him.

Mr Nilsson, 43, was left with bruising and swelling to his face as a result of the “unmerciful” attack.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the horrific incident, which took place earlier this month, and a local councillor has called on forces to crack down on crime in the area.

Anna-Marie said the pair were confronted by the gang after buying cigarettes at her local shop.

She said: “There was a group of lads outside throwing snowballs. When we came out they started throwing them at me so we turned around and told them to stop.

“The next thing it was just like a pack of lions surrounding us, like when they pounce on a zebra - it was unmerciful.

“They knocked by brother down and I managed to get him up but they came back for him. I got him up a second time and managed to cover him but I was getting punched in the face whilst trying to drag him away.

“I don’t now how I got him up the road, they carried on right until we got inside the house. It was the longest 10 minutes of my life.”

Mr Nilsson was punched and kicked in the attack and was taken to hospital where he was sent for an MRI scan and head X-rays.

“I don’t think he would have survived it if he had taken another kick to the head,” Anna-Marie said. “We’d be burying him I reckon.”

Anna-Marie and her brother, who live on the same road in Wood End, were born in the area, but have been left unsure of whether they want to stay after the attack.

Councillor Ed Ruane, cabinet member for children and young people and councillor for Henley, told the Telegraph fearful residents want police to take tougher action.

“It is clear that we are losing control of our neighbourhoods, and that we need more neighbourhood Policing to come together and provide clear action plans to tackle the threat posed by the emerging gang culture on our local streets.”

Investigations continue and anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting 20CV/267246R/17.