Asperger's sufferer, 18, is left paralysed after breaking his spine in four places in 50ft fall while trying to escape gang of bullies

  • Boy bullied 'because he suffers from Asperger's' paralysed in fall from bridge
  • Joshua Davies fell 50ft onto dry riverbed rocks after being chased by yobs
  • He fell onto the rocks, breaking his spine, both arms and both legs
  • Joshua now faces life in a wheelchair and was told he will never walk again
  • His parents say police failed to act on their repeated bullying concerns

A boy bullied for having Asperger’s has been told he will never walk again after falling 50ft from a bridge while trying to escape his tormentors.

Joshua Davies, 18, was running away from a gang of boys across a river when he plummeted on to rocks below, breaking his spine in four places and leaving him paralysed from the waist down.

His family claim he has been picked on relentlessly over the past five years by a group of younger teenagers, who saw him as an ‘easy target’.

Joshua Davies, 18, pictured from his hospital bed in Wales, where doctors have said he will never walk again

Joshua Davies, 18, pictured from his hospital bed in Wales, where doctors have said he will never walk again

Joshua, pictured in his hospital bed, broke his spine in four places and will be unable to even sit up for six weeks

Joshua, pictured in his hospital bed, broke his spine in four places and will be unable to even sit up for six weeks

Joshua’s stepfather Michael Morgan, 35, last night accused police of repeatedly failing to act, after his family pleaded for help on more than 15 occasions.

On the afternoon of August 17, the teenager and his friend were walking by the river when they realised the bullies were following them.

‘They heard them shout, “There they are – let’s get them,”’ said Mr Morgan.

‘Joshua and his pal climbed on to the steel supports of the bridge to get away but the boys started throwing stones at them. One of the stones hit Joshua on the shoulder and another hit him on his foot. He lost his grip and fell.’

Joshua, who also broke both arms and legs in the accident, was still in hospital yesterday.

He was attacked by members of the same gang earlier this summer when he refused to buy them alcohol, his family claim.

‘He came out of the local corner shop and one of the boys jumped on his back and started hitting him on the back of his head,’ said Mr Morgan, an electrical engineer.

The Broadway which crosses the river Taff in Pontypridd, South Wales. It was here Joshua fell onto the rocks

The Broadway which crosses the river Taff in Pontypridd, South Wales. It was here Joshua fell onto the rocks

‘That was the only time he defended himself and he was arrested and charged, which made him scared to defend himself again.’

Mr Morgan said his stepson, who was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome at 14, is ‘trusting and can be easily manipulated’.

‘He does not always have a sense of danger. We have tried to instil it into him, but you can’t wrap him up in cotton wool, although now I wish we had done.’

The bullying became so bad that Joshua was increasingly anxious whenever he left his home in Pontypridd, South Wales. ‘He has been forced to avoid certain areas, which has made him a prisoner in his own community,’ said Mr Morgan.

Joshua pictured before the accident. He was due to start a course in electrical engineering and construction this week - instead, he remains in hospital where he'll be unable to even sit up for the next six weeks

Joshua pictured before the accident. He was due to start a course in electrical engineering and construction this week - instead, he remains in hospital where he'll be unable to even sit up for the next six weeks

THE AUTISM SPECTRUM: PROBLEMS IN COMMUNICATION

Asperger's syndrome is a form of autism, which affects people's social skills, ability to communicate and how they relate to the world around them.

As autism is measured on a 'spectrum', there are wide variations in how it affects those who suffer from it.

Often those with Asperger's syndrome have difficulty maintaining eye contact when speaking to others and are awkward when interacting with people.

They can develop unusual preoccupations, or rituals, and show repetitive behaviour.

The exact cause of the disorder is unknown, although it is thought it could be genetic given it tends to run in families.

It is four times more likely to occur in males than in females.

There is no single cure, although a range of treatments, including special education, speech, physical or occupational therapy and medication can be used to help treat it.

‘He has felt threatened and been constantly on edge ...  even if he saw a group of innocent boys approaching he would start to worry.’ Mr Morgan claimed that Joshua went to the police more than 15 times about the bullies’ attacks, but that they ‘didn’t take him seriously’.

‘His problems were brushed under the carpet because they thought he was messing around,’ he said.

Joshua had recently left school and was due to start a course in electrical engineering and construction this week.

However, he has been told he can no longer attend as it is not suitable for wheelchair users.

He has undergone three operations and will not be able to sit up for six weeks, but his family say he remains upbeat.

Joshua was starting to live in fear after repeated attacks from bullies, his family said
The kids were throwing stones at Joshua and his friend when he tried to escape them by climbing the bridge

Joshua's parents said he was recently chased into a local supermarket by a group of bullies and a security officer had to help him to escape through the back door while the manager called the police

Joshua’s mother Cheryl, 44, a full-time carer for her other son Michael who also has autism, said last night: ‘Joshua is not  a fighter – he’s a very gentle young man who now faces life in a wheelchair.

‘I think this could have been prevented if the police had listened to him.’

Detective Inspector David Peart said: ‘I can confirm that South Wales Police responded to allegations of assault on three separate occasions between April 2011 and June 2014.

‘On each occasion, a thorough investigation took place and appropriate action was taken. There is no evidence to suggest that the incident which took place on August 17 is connected.’

Three teenagers – two aged 15 and one aged 16 – were arrested and remain on police bail.