British Transport Police have released CCTV footage of a teenager they want to speak to in connection with an assault at Hengoed train station.
At about 3.30pm on Sunday September 13, a teenager was attacked with a metal pole by another teen.
The attacked teen was on the Cardiff-bound platform at Hengoed railway station when a youth riding a girl’s pink mountain bike approached and started talking to him.
The youth then jumped down onto the tracks and grabbed a foot-long metal pole. He returned to the platform before attacking the victim, hitting him in the head with the pole and demanding money.
The victim, who is now 16 but was aged 15 at the time, was not seriously hurt but was left badly shaken by his ordeal.
He suffered head injuries but managed to escape by running away.
The youth police would like to speak to about the incident is described as white, about 12-14 years old, 5ft 4in with very short blond hair that had a distinctive diamond and triangle pattern shaved in the sides and back of his head.
He had blue eyes, dark eyebrows and had lots of freckles on his face and neck. He was wearing a white, zipped Umbro top with black stripes on the arms, dark blue tracksuit bottoms and white trainers.
It is possible that he lives in the Hengoed area, but police believe he may be from the Caerphilly area or part of the Rhymney valley.
Detective Inspector Mark Cleland said: “This was a violent unprovoked attack on a young member of public innocently waiting to catch a train.
“The description of the youth we would like to speak to is very distinctive and I would ask anyone who recognises him, or knows someone who has a similar bike to contact me.
“It may even be that the person who cut his hair in that distinctive style knows who he is or where he lives. Again, if that is the case, I would urge that person to come forward and contact BTP.”
Detectives investigating the attack had to seek special permission from the courts to release the images because the youth appears to be under the age of 18.
Anyone with information should contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.