Boy accused of bashing young mother

A 15-year-old boy has appeared in Gisborne Youth Court accused of bashing a young mother with a crowbar while she was out jogging with her toddler in a pram yesterday.

The woman, aged in her 30s, was pushing the pram down Kaiti Hill about 9am when she was approached from behind and hit over the head a number of times with a crowbar, Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Scott said.

She managed to get away from her attacker and run down the rest of the hill with her child.

After seeking help from residents in the street, the woman was taken to hospital with a number of serious injuries, including cuts to the head. She was discharged yesterday afternoon.

The area was cordoned off by police and a 15-year-old boy was found after a police dog track.

He appeared in court yesterday facing a charge of wounding with intent to injure and was remanded on strict bail conditions to reappear on Friday.

Police said the boy was unknown to the woman.

- NZPA