A teenage girl from Ashford confronted three men who were viciously beating another on the floor in a dark underpass.

The actions of 15-year-old Josie Wilding-Mitton - who stands at just 5ft 4ins in her stockinged feet - meant that the violent men ran off, having repeatedly punched a 21-year-old for his mobile phone.

The Homewood School pupil said: “I was walking with my dad and I could hear all this shouting and I just assumed it was boys, but then I saw this man on the floor and these three men were kicking and punching him.

“I just shot up the hill to him and stood between them and shouted at them.

“I said: ‘What do you think you’re doing?’ They backed away and said that the man had stolen their phone and I was like ‘clearly not’ and then they grabbed his phone and ran off.

“I stayed with [the man] and he said he’d had a few drinks and been followed.
“His face was all swollen and he was talking out of one side of his mouth because he’d been hurt so badly.”

It happened on Saturday evening at about 9.45pm in an underpass underneath the Great Chart bypass.

The underpass underneath the Great Chart bypass

Police say the 21-year-old was walking home when he was attacked from behind and punched in the face.

Falling to the ground, he managed to get back on his feet and turned around to see three men.

Once again, he was beaten to the ground and his mobile phone was grabbed from his pocket.

Police said the action of passer-by Josie approaching the men meant they ran off, ensuring Tom wasn’t hurt any further.

Josie of High Ridge, Singleton, added: “I didn’t feel scared, it was just a natural instinct. I couldn’t just stand there because it was so cruel, what they were doing to him.

“Those boys must be sick to have done what they did. I wanted them to know that there are people out there who are going to stand up to them.”

Josie’s dad Robin said he is very proud of his daughter, describing her actions as “amazing”.

A police spokesman said: “The man had been drinking in The Swan, and police are exploring the possibility that his attackers may have also been in there.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det Con Paris Cook on 101. If you have information but want to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.