Gatecrashers terrorise Otford family

The family and friends of an Otford teenager celebrating his 16th birthday were terrorised when gatecrashers returned with older brothers on Saturday, 20 November.

About 50 youths were invited to the party but three uninvited guests were asked to leave after they had become involved in several altercations.

They were escorted from the home but a guest who had left earlier rang to tell the family he had been assaulted at Stanwell Park train station by the same boys and they planned to return.

The mother of the birthday boy, who did not wish to be named for fear of reprisals against her other children, said she was at first dismissive of the threat but when 10 burly 18 to 20-year-olds turned up in her driveway, she phoned police.

The gang then proceeded to accuse the family of hitting their younger brothers and became violent. The father of the birthday boy was punched in the face, the mother’s cousin was hit in the head with a log and a large rock was thrown through a skylight.

“My husband was nearly knocked out and my cousin needed four stitches,” the mother said.

“I was terrified and my two younger children were in the house screaming,” she said.

Police arrived soon after the gang left but the family was unable to provide descriptions of the attackers.

The mother wanted to warn residents that police needed to be notified of any teenage parties so they could do random patrols and be on alert should trouble occur. She also recommended security personnel be hired if possible.

“I can’t stop it by taking these people off the streets but I want the community to know you have to be vigilant and be on top of teenage parties,” she said. “I’ve learnt the hard way.”

Anyone with information on the incident should phone Helensburgh Police on 4294 1013 or Wollongong Police on 4226 7899.