Assault victim Willem needs more treatment

SURGERY to repair attack victim Willem Haymaker's battered nose has failed. He faces a further operation.

As police this week announced that they have made a fourth arrest in connection with the ongoing investigation into the brutal attack on the Bexhill College student, Willem, 17, spoke of his gratitude to the public and his frustration at not being able to see out of one eye.

Willem thanked the Observer for forwarding the many cards and letters addressed to him via the paper following the attack.

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His father's photograph of his blooded and pulped face as he lay in an accident and emergency bed at the Conquest Hospital shocked readers.

Willem (pictured) says: "I want to thank everyone who has been so kind to write cards and letters to me about the attack.

"I even got cards from people overseas.

"I feel sorry for the lady who wrote about her son being involved in my attack. I would be embarrassed too. But I think it's silly to blame what he did on not having anything to do in Bexhill.

"I hope your son doesn't come across any elderly people who are bored. They're bigger and probably kick harder too!

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"There's plenty to do if you just look for it. And if you are bored does it mean it's ok to hurt people just for fun?

"I still can't breathe and I can't see from my eye. I will have to have surgery to fix my nose. I don't know what will happen about my eye.

"The police keep saying things about young people and the attack on me that makes it sound like we don't matter or what happens to us doesn't count. Maybe that's some of the problem here."

Willem says: "I'm sad because some people have said I know the people who attacked me. This is not true! I don't know any of them. I have seen some of them around town but that is all. Lots of people have written cards and notes to say how sorry they are about the attack. My dad says he is embarrassed for Bexhill because the people here are so nice and he doesn't want the town to have a bad name...

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"The work the hospital did on my nose didn't work so I will have to have surgery so I can breathe again properly and they will have to set my nose so it doesn't point in the wrong way.

"I'm sad about my eye because I can't see. Everything is blurred and it bothers me a lot."

He adds: "I'm not angry - I just want things to be the way they were..."