Legal High Warning After Baby Attack

5 July 2013, 18:07 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Police in Ashington have issued an urgent warning after a teenager arrested on suspicion of grabbing a baby from a pram and throwing it to the floor had taken a legal high.

Northumbria Police said another teenager from Northumberland was in hospital having smoked a cigarette which contained a substance called Salvia.

That boy, a pupil at Ashington High School, was in a stable condition having collapsed.

The force said the 16-year-old who was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an infant in nearby Newbiggin had taken the same substance.

Superintendent Mick Paterson said:
"Our advice is, just because it says 'legal' on the packet does not mean it is safe.

These products are usually made from chemicals that can have a serious effect on your health.

People appear to be suffering some particularly nasty side effects to this substance, Salvia, and we are concerned that there appears to be a quantity of it circulating in the Ashington area at this time.

If you are in possession of this substance do not use it, and if you have taken it seek medical assistance at once.''

The baby was attacked at around 3.20pm when the child's mother saw someone acting in a distressed manner.

She approached him and engaged him in conversation, at which point he grabbed the baby from the buggy and threw it to the ground.

The suspect then left the scene. The child was checked at Wansbeck Hospital and suffered what have been described as very minor injuries.

A local boy was arrested nearby on suspicion of assault and is in custody.

Police are making inquiries in the area and are speaking to witnesses to find out what happened.

Officers asked anyone who witnessed the incident or who has information about it to contact police on the 101 non-emergency number.