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Boys punch, kick and headbutt each other in sick video
Two bloodied schoolboys punch, kick and headbutt each other as an adult with a video camera goads them on.
The sickening scenes show one child screaming as his frenzied attacker hits him before stamping on him in a Sussex bedroom.
All the time the adult holding the camera encourages the children to 'fight properly like guys' before the footage was posted on internet video sharing website YouTube.
At one point one of the boys breaks down.
Today The Argus offers a £1,000 reward for information which leads to a successful prosecution.
We took the difficult decision to carry it and not obscure the boys' faces in a bid to help people identify the man behind the camera.
The scene for the fight is a darkened children's bedroom thought to be in Crawley decorated in posters, with a white wardrobe and teddy bears in the corner.
Last night police backed The Argus's bid to find the adult who filmed the fights.
YouTube removed the two videos after we contacted the site.
West Sussex County Council's social services officers have launched an investigation into the footage and children's charities condemned the cameraman.
Inspector Mark Piper of Sussex Police said: "We have been made aware of two videos that have appeared on YouTube, which may or may not be linked with Crawley.
"Sussex Police take very seriously any situation where young children are subjected to violence and we appeal to anyone who can assist us with the identification of the people involved.
"We believe that YouTube have taken a sensible approach by suspending these videos and we support The Argus with this stance in public safety."
The Argus found two videos on YouTube, both filmed in the same bedroom with the same boys in each.
One was called Lethal Fight (Crawley) while the other was called Lethal Fight 2.
One of the boys is wearing a dark blue T-shirt while the other is wearing a white T-shirt.
At one point a boy is heard chanting 'Crawley, Crawley Town' while the other says Manchester. It is believed they were talking about the football teams they support.
At one point one of the boys looks to the camera and says 'Kicking is allowed, isn't it?'
The videos were uploaded onto the internet five days ago. In one disturbing shot, a child no older than four, walks perilously close to the brawl before disappearing off camera.
All the while the adult filming tells the youngsters to 'smack the s*** out of each other', orders them not to hug and says 'you're fighting like girls, fight properly'.
The cameraman laughs when one of the boys begins to cry before encouraging him to retaliate with his fists.
At one point his legs can be seen as he pans the camera towards the ground.
YouTube said it will help police with its investigations. A spokesman said: "YouTube is a community site used by millions of people in very positive ways.
"Sadly as with any form of communication, there is a tiny minority of people who try to break the rules.
"On YouTube, these rules prohibit content like pornography or gratuitous violence.
"When people see content that they think is inappropriate they can flag it up and our staff then review it.
"If the content breaks our terms then we remove it and if a user repeatedly breaks the rules we disable their account."
A West Sussex County Council spokesman said: "We are grateful to The Argus for bringing these two films to our attention.
"They will be forwarded to the appropriate Child Care Team to see if the children in the films are known to us.
"The welfare of children is paramount to our Children and Young People's Services and if they are known to us we will take whatever action is appropriate."
An NSPCC spokeswoman said: "Fostering aggression between children is totally unacceptable."
The Argus is offering a £1,000 reward for information which leads to a successful prosecution if it is deemed that an offence has been committed. The reward will be paid at the Editor's discretion.
Anyone with information should contact Sussex Police on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
See the video footage here11:45pm Tuesday 25th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Greg on 9:12am Wed 26 Mar 08
Why are you commenting on the quality of the paper when there is a blatent tale of neglect being told, which is surely the bigger issue. Incidently, I'v elived around the country and the Argus is one of the better papers I've read. Help these kids.
Why are you commenting on the quality of the paper when there is a blatent tale of neglect being told, which is surely the bigger issue. Incidently, I'v elived around the country and the Argus is one of the better papers I've read. Help these kids.
Posted by: Gino, Portslade on 9:22am Wed 26 Mar 08
That is what they are trying to do by encouraging people to watch the (edited) video. I hope they catch the scumbag who did this.
That is what they are trying to do by encouraging people to watch the (edited) video. I hope they catch the scumbag who did this.
Posted by: mark, hove, 185-900 on 9:35am Wed 26 Mar 08
I think videos have to be edited, some sort of legal thing if I remember!! The man should be put in a ring with Mike Tyson to see how he likes it.
I think videos have to be edited, some sort of legal thing if I remember!! The man should be put in a ring with Mike Tyson to see how he likes it.
Posted by: Stroller, Hove on 9:58am Wed 26 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Greg[/bold] wrote:
Why are you commenting on the quality of the paper when there is a blatent tale of neglect being told, which is surely the bigger issue. Incidently, I'v elived around the country and the Argus is one of the better papers I've read. Help these kids.[/quote] The Argus has removed my comments upon this violence-obsessed paper. Perhaps it will take some notice. the paper is missing a great chance to be so much better.
Greg wrote:
Why are you commenting on the quality of the paper when there is a blatent tale of neglect being told, which is surely the bigger issue. Incidently, I'v elived around the country and the Argus is one of the better papers I've read. Help these kids.
The Argus has removed my comments upon this violence-obsessed paper. Perhaps it will take some notice. the paper is missing a great chance to be so much better.
Posted by: Gino, Portslade on 11:36am Wed 26 Mar 08
It removed my comment about Crawley being a boil on the ar*e of Sussex as well, but that doesn't make it any less true. Or maybe that's because I agreed that the Argus is pretty much a pile of tat these days.
It removed my comment about Crawley being a boil on the ar*e of Sussex as well, but that doesn't make it any less true. Or maybe that's because I agreed that the Argus is pretty much a pile of tat these days.
Posted by: Positive thoughts on 5:39pm Wed 26 Mar 08
Why oh why cant people just stick to commenting on the stories and stop trashing The paper,if you dont like it dont read it idiots!
Why oh why cant people just stick to commenting on the stories and stop trashing The paper,if you dont like it dont read it idiots!
Posted by: Martyn, Burgess Hill on 6:56pm Wed 26 Mar 08
Are we sure that this was actually filmed in the UK? the kids looked foreign. I reckon it was filmed in India.
Are we sure that this was actually filmed in the UK? the kids looked foreign. I reckon it was filmed in India.
Posted by: Dave, hove on 2:45am Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Martyn[/bold] wrote:
Are we sure that this was actually filmed in the UK? the kids looked foreign. I reckon it was filmed in India.[/quote] Looked Indian, Martyn, have you been to Crawley?? The road signs are not even in English!!
Martyn wrote:
Are we sure that this was actually filmed in the UK? the kids looked foreign. I reckon it was filmed in India.
Looked Indian, Martyn, have you been to Crawley?? The road signs are not even in English!!
Posted by: Michael Jack, New York NY USA on 6:26pm Thu 27 Mar 08
These Children need help
and the adult filming needs prison,What matter their race?
Glad this was seen by so many viewers as it will
help the adult get arrested.
These Children need help
and the adult filming needs prison,What matter their race?
Glad this was seen by so many viewers as it will
help the adult get arrested.
Posted by: lewis on 10:21am Fri 28 Mar 08
I find this footage extremly upsetting, being a parent myself I find this behaviour of a so called adult forcing children to do this very disturbing. Who ever filmed this and forced those children to do that to each other should be locked up and given some of their own medicine
I find this footage extremly upsetting, being a parent myself I find this behaviour of a so called adult forcing children to do this very disturbing. Who ever filmed this and forced those children to do that to each other should be locked up and given some of their own medicine
Posted by: Jolle Needham, Crawley on 7:43pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Would it be possible to upload the whole video? I've seen a slight amount, and I kind of recognise the two children, who visit a local newsagents mostly everyday to purchase sweets with a man aged around 20. If you could upload more of it, I can identify whether or not it is those two children, thank you.
Would it be possible to upload the whole video? I've seen a slight amount, and I kind of recognise the two children, who visit a local newsagents mostly everyday to purchase sweets with a man aged around 20. If you could upload more of it, I can identify whether or not it is those two children, thank you.
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