Teenager (17) attacked by Kimberworth gang after standing up to homophobic abuse

A GANG attack on a teenage boy in Kimberworth which left him "'badly beaten" is being treated by police as hate crime.

The assault on the 17-year-old boy may have been filmed and circulated on social media and police are urging people with information to come forward.

The boy is believed to have been attacked by a group of people after defending someone else from homophobic comments in High Street at around midnight on Saturday, June 29. 

"The victim is believed to have been struck from behind and badly beaten, leaving him with serious cuts and grazes that required hospital treatment," said a spokeswoman for South Yorkshire Police.

Police are treating the incident as a suspected hate crime. 

"We have heard that the attack may have been filmed on a smart phone and we are now appealing for information which may help identify those responsible," she added.

Did you witness the attack? Have you seen footage of the incident circulating on social media? 

If you have any information which may help, call 101 quoting incident number 1231 of June 29, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111