Sean Stoakes pictured the day after he was punched and kicked near the Broad Street Mall in the early hours of July 7
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'Find who did this to my son'
By Mike PyleJuly 23, 2012
A mother has called for police to do more to catch the thug who did this to her son’s face.
Caversham man Sean Stoakes was skateboarding when he was punched and kicked by a man as a group of the thug’s friends looked on and laughed at around 1.30am on Saturday, July 7.
His phone and wallet, containing his birthday money, were stolen.
Mr Stoakes is a diabetic and his attacker also took his insulin and kicked him so badly in his stomach, the area he uses to inject, that he has found it difficult to take his insulin.
It is the second time the vulnerable 22-year-old has been beaten up in two years and now his mum Chloe is concerned about the long-term impact this second incident could have on his health.
He was only out in the early hours because he feels safer when fewer people are about, Mrs Stoakes said.
Although the attack near the Broad Street Mall appeared to be random and Mr Stoakes did not know his assailant, Mr Stoakes did recognise one of the people he was with and used Facebook to identify the man who beat him up.
He and his mum gave the name of their suspect to police but, despite repeated visits to his house, officers have still not made an arrest.
Mrs Stoakes, who is deaf and unable to use the phone so has been communicating with police through text messages, said: “Despite identifying his attacker to police no arrests have been made, no support offered and no-one has visited us at home – I am disgusted how little the police assist families such as mine.
“They did nothing two years ago. They never tried to pursue his attacker. This time I’ve had enough of it.”
Last week police sent this text message to Mrs Stoakes: “Attempts are being made [to speak to the man Mrs Stoakes identified] about three times per day with response officers.
“I haven’t been updated with anything from this so I assume that nothing has been successful. I will contact you when we have managed to arrest him.”
Two years ago, not long after he moved to Reading, Mr Stoakes was attacked near the Thames in King’s Meadow and his mum says it had a profound effect on his life.
She said: “He was at college, doing fantastically with his life, and then he was severely attacked.
“He was beaten up so badly he had to spend three weekends in hospital, they had to shave his head – it was really hard for him.
“When he came out he became severely depressed. He wouldn’t leave the house, he wouldn’t contact anyone. It was really hard for us to get support for him because of his age. He lost motivation, he’s felt suicidal at times because it’s been so difficult getting support.
“He restarted college but, unfortunately, because of what happened he had panic attacks and he couldn’t carry on.”
Mr Stoakes managed to get a place on a course with the DKH Legacy Trust, a charity set up by Dame Kelly Holmes to help vulnerable young people, and made progress during his time on the course but slipped back into depression when it finished.
Mrs Stoakes, who gave up work to care for her son, added: “I’m really worried about what this attack will do to him.
“How long will it carry on for? His depression and mental health issues have made him a target. There are gangs who have called him names and spat at him. He only goes out at night because there are fewer people around and he thinks its safer. Now this has happened. It makes you fear the worst.”
Police have confirmed they are investigating the incident. Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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23/07/2012 at 13:54 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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23/07/2012 at 13:50 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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23/07/2012 at 13:26 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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23/07/2012 at 13:16 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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23/07/2012 at 12:31 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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I don't want to appear patronising, but Mr Stokes and his mum need to have a long hard think about "He only goes out at night because there are fewer people around and he thinks its safer". Bad people come out after dark and do bad things.
23/07/2012 at 12:20 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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Once again you are confusing your opinion with facts. Overall the budget for policing in this country is lower than it was when Labour were voted out of Government in 2010. Therefore that is a CUT in spending and not a reduction in the rise in spending. And have you ever heard of inflation? If you haven't then it means that if you are spending the same amount now as you did 3-4 years ago then now you are getting less for your money. Its really not very hard to understand.
You may also be interested to know that Home Office Statistics show the amount of time officers spend on frontline duties has remained pretty constant for over 20 years regardless of which party happens to be in power. However I suspect that you're probably not interested because these statistics don't fit in with your one eyed view of British politics.
The truth is that polictians of all sides have badly let down the police in recent years; Labour by bringing in a crime recording and performance target regime that encourages Forces not to record crime and only to target the 'easy wins' and the Coalition by arbitrarily cutting budgets and then bringing in the ludicrous Police Commissioner role that will deliver no benefits and squander much needed resources though holding pointless elections to appoint politicians into a role that they are patently unsuited to fill.
23/07/2012 at 11:34 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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23/07/2012 at 10:45 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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Let's get a couple of things straight here. Before Labour mismanaged the country for 13 years, the police spent far less time in police stations filling out countless forms in triplicate. As for the 'cuts', there is no such thing, just a reduction in the rise of spending. We are going back to the spending levels of the late Naughties, that's hardly the drastic slashing of services that lefties are pointing out. If so much wasn't wasted on stupid left-wing policies and if there was large-scale management cutbacks, the police could do far better with their resources.
23/07/2012 at 10:14 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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Maybe if the Police were seen and known to be about everywhere, I'd see, hear and read less about things happening where they don't simply congregate. I'd also probably have to dodge less urine as the more intelligent would use the pop-up urinals than face a fixed penalty if caught.
23/07/2012 at 10:07 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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23/07/2012 at 10:06 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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Furtheremore, and this one goes out to any member's of our local constabulary reading this, if Thames Valley Police officers, deployed to Reading on a weekend applied the same effort to solving crimes and actual police work, as they do in sampling and ogling the delights displayed by some of the female population in this town (use of sarcasm deliberate there!!) then this town would enjoy the peace and harmony that it's decent and upstanding population deserve!!
23/07/2012 at 09:51 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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23/07/2012 at 09:28 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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The thugs who have attacked Mr Stoakes and the authorities for perhaps not helping him deal with the "after care" that comes with such ordeals, having been attacked before.
I have to agree with Whitespirit though. The attack is disgusting, but why was he around there at that time? It's well known as one of Reading's "flash points" within it's nightlife and dare I say much needs to be done to get rid of it. But given this is also one of Reading's busiest areas at that time of night, it does make the argument about "feeling safer with fewer people about" redundant.
I've nothing against skateboarders at all, but weaving in and about drunks late at night will equally do you no favours given some people of our lovely town seem to exhibit an IQ number found on a dice, once they've had a few.
Still though... I hope those responsible get caught. Given how much has been spent on it and how much of it there apparently is, is there any CCTV they can use to bring this guy in with?
23/07/2012 at 09:13 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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I sympathise totally with Mr Stoakes, and the horrifying ordeal he went through, and yes I totally agree that he, or anybody should be able to go out and do whatever they please, when they please, and know that they are going to come home unscathed.
Sadly, it is indicitive of the times we live in, that bunches of lads, who are of course so macho to prey on an innocent bloke mob-handed after a few beers, tend to rule the streets at night. I was assualted 11 years ago, by 6 lads, my only crime was to accidentally knock the pint out of one of their hands several hours earlier one Saturday night. Walking home alone,they saw me, chased me, a taxi driver refused to take me, then suddenly I have 6 guys beating me up, a right eye i couldnt see out of for five weeks, and a broken left wrist.
That experience put me off being alone at night, certainly put me off going into town drinking for a considerable period of time.
I really hope that Mr Stoakes somehow finds the strnegth of charachter to some how get through this, and, whilst not questioning his freedom, I am perhaps questioning hisjudgement, for the above reasons. I am sure he is a good, upstanding man who means no harm to anybody, and I hope somehow, the last shred of his good charachter is able to rustle up the strength to get through this experience and to still retain even a small amount of trust in human kind.
23/07/2012 at 09:06 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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