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Onlookers ignored attack on Ukrainian

8/ 5/2008

A UKRAINIAN businessman on his first ever visit to England, was beaten up in broad daylight by two teenage thugs - while onlookers stood by and did nothing.

Leonid Paradny, 49, had gone for a stroll close to his son Ross’ home, in the Singleton Road area of Broughton Park, when he was punched three times in the face, leaving him with a cracked cheekbone, bruises and in a state of shock.

He says the thugs also tried to wrench his camera and a gold neckchain from him.

Mr Paradny, who speaks no English, says after spending some days sightseeing in London and Manchester with his family, he decided to go for a walk alone before dinner last Friday evening.

Speaking via his son, who works at the King David School in Prestwich, he said one of a number of youngsters came up to him and spoke to him.

Ross, 24, said: "Dad didn’t understand what was being said to him, and walked away, but as he did so, he says he noticed at least one of the kids making calls on a mobile phone

"About half a dozen of the youngsters then began to follow him, and they began throwing stones and other things at him, so he started to run."

At that moment the tourist was helped out by a driver who gave him a lift close to home. But two of the teenagers had followed on their bikes and launched their attack while Mr Paradny shouted for help.

He eventually ran to safety in a synagogue where he called his son.

Ross said: "When I arrived, I saw the two lads on the bike, who were obviously waiting for him to come outside, but as they realised that perhaps other people were coming, they disappeared.

"There were plenty of people who had watched what happened, but nobody tried to help, and nobody came forward."

He added: "Dad says he is disgusted at the way he was treated, and finds it unbelievable. He runs a small plastics factory back home, and has about 100 people working for him.

"He is a respectable man, and says he can’t believe that such a thing could happen in what is supposed to be a civilised country with the finest law and order system in the world.

"It has left a really sour taste in our mouths."