‘Hanged’ boy’s mother speaks out

Nick Foley

Specialist officers were continuing to question Anthony Hinchliffe after he was found wandering alone with ligature-type marks around his neck.

His family said he was taken from his mother's back garden in West Yorkshire and led to a nearby wood where he was injured. Detectives who are treating the incident as attempted murder have refused to confirm reports that the youngster sustained his injuries through being hanged.

Five children, all aged between 11 and 12, were arrested and questioned in connection with the alleged attack, which happened in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, on Tuesday evening. A 12-year-old remained in custody last night.

The boy's mother, Terry Brown, said: "This has been a very distressing time for both myself and my family.

"One of my main concerns, now that I have Anthony back with me, is for anyone who has any information that can help the police to come forward and get in touch." Officers described the process of interviewing the children involved as "painstaking" and warned the investigation would take some time.

The incident bears chilling similarities to the 1993 murder of Merseyside toddler James Bulger, who was led away by two boys while waiting for his mother outside a shop.