A five-year-old girl who is battling cancer is recovering after two boys sprayed her with deodorant and tried to set her alight.
Scarlett Hellewell had to be rescued by neighbours when the pair pinned her down and attacked her with the aerosol can in Halifax, West Yorkshire.
She escaped with bruises when the deodorant did not set alight.
The two young boys, believed to be only 10 and seven ran off.
A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: "The girl was playing when she was approached by two young boys.
"(They) kicked and punched her before spraying an aerosol in her face and attempting to set her alight. The match did not ignite."
Scarlett is suffering from a tumour which has left her blind in one eye and with marginal sight in the other.
Her mother Paula, 38, a home support worker, said she was hoping to move away from the estate where they live.
She told the Yorkshire Post: "I was disgusted when I heard what these boys had done, though this is not the first time they have attacked her.
"Scarlett's brain tumour is getting bigger and this was the last thing we needed to happen."
Neighbour Adele Brearley, 30, said: "Scarlett was really upset and her eyes were sore where they had sprayed deodorant. If they had managed to light the matches it would have been a lot worse."
Police are appealing for witnesses.
Five Year Old Cancer Sufferer Is Recovering After Two Boys Tried To Set Her Alight With Aerosol Can | UK News | Sky News
bloody hell, how appalling!!! no decent parenting or discipline, typical youth of this country! This story is just sick!!
Scarlett Hellewell had to be rescued by neighbours when the pair pinned her down and attacked her with the aerosol can in Halifax, West Yorkshire.
She escaped with bruises when the deodorant did not set alight.
The two young boys, believed to be only 10 and seven ran off.
A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: "The girl was playing when she was approached by two young boys.
"(They) kicked and punched her before spraying an aerosol in her face and attempting to set her alight. The match did not ignite."
Scarlett is suffering from a tumour which has left her blind in one eye and with marginal sight in the other.
Her mother Paula, 38, a home support worker, said she was hoping to move away from the estate where they live.
She told the Yorkshire Post: "I was disgusted when I heard what these boys had done, though this is not the first time they have attacked her.
"Scarlett's brain tumour is getting bigger and this was the last thing we needed to happen."
Neighbour Adele Brearley, 30, said: "Scarlett was really upset and her eyes were sore where they had sprayed deodorant. If they had managed to light the matches it would have been a lot worse."
Police are appealing for witnesses.
Five Year Old Cancer Sufferer Is Recovering After Two Boys Tried To Set Her Alight With Aerosol Can | UK News | Sky News
bloody hell, how appalling!!! no decent parenting or discipline, typical youth of this country! This story is just sick!!
Last edited: