Schoolgirl bashed on the way home

Photo: LUKE PARKER

STUDENT BULLYING: Tarsha Wolferstan is nursing her wounds after being attacked by students on the way home from Waitakere College.

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Bullying and a brutal after-school assault have left Tarsha Wolferstan too scared to go out by herself.

The 14-year-old Waitakere College student was pinned down, kicked and punched as she walked home on November 11. Trouble had been brewing throughout the day between a number of pupils.

Tarsha was walking across the school field about 3.15pm when she was confronted.

She was challenged again on the road where she was tripped up and attacked.

"I was kicked and punched in the face."

One of her assailants was from another school and Tarsha says a Waitakere pupil held her down. She suffered a bruised shoulder, a bump on the back of her head, a swollen forehead and a black eye.

She went to a nearby house and called her grandmother Christine Nafio who phoned the police.

"They came down straight away and photographed her and then took her to the police station," Mrs Nafio says.

Mrs Nafio says the family won’t be sending Tarsha back to the school.

She claims the bullying has been ongoing.

"I’ve gone up to the school four or five times to find out why she’s being bullied and picked on," she says.

"She’s never really been into any trouble in previous schools and has been a good pupil," says Mrs Nafio.

Police are speaking to the students involved.

Police officer Scott Webb says offenders aged 13 or older are generally referred to Youth Aid for a family-group conference.

Some suspects go straight to Youth Court depending on the seriousness of the offence.

Waitakere College principal Mark Shanahan did not return calls when asked to comment on the incident.

- © Fairfax NZ News