A STUDENT WHO was brutally attacked near the University has called for greater off-campus security measures.

Stuart Wynn, an 18 year-old archaeology student, was attacked on his way back from town by four youths. His attackers demanded his phone and cash after smashing him in the face with a plank of wood and leaving him with a swollen nose and cuts to the face.

The assault happened on Heslington Road by St Lawrence’s Primary School at 11.45pm on Friday 19th August after a night out in town. The gang of two men and two women approached Wynn and asked for the time. When he took out his phone to check, he was attacked.

Speaking to Nouse, Wynn criticised “the great lack of attention to the off campus areas. Fairfax House, where I lived last year, didn’t have any staff on duty after 5 o’clock and there wasn’t even a free phone to contact the porters.” He also suggested a “free late night bus between campus and the city centre, like the old Ikon buses that used to run. Anything really that prevents students having to walk back from town alone.”

PC Chris Poole of York Police advised students not to walk by themselves late at night and “be aware of groups of youths approaching you for no apparent reason. Try not to be obviously using mobile phones and if you do have any concerns about safety, contact the police.”

Wynn admits that he “never expected to get attacked walking through York” and warned that although it is “generally a safe place to live, if you walk home on your own on a Friday or Saturday night then you should make sure you are particularly aware of everything going on around you.”

The police have issued a description of the youth that attacked Wynn as white, aged 16 to 18, medium build and 5ft 11in tall. He wore a light blue zip-up top, blue tracksuit bottoms, white trainers and a white cap.

Anyone with any information should contact DC Jo Wragg on 0845 6060247.

Related posts:

• Serious sexual attack on student investigated by police
• Campus security stepped up after spate of attacks
• Female student raped on campus in the early hours
• Student hospitalised after RAG event
• Students involved in series of assaults over summer break