Five-year-old girl battling cancer viciously attacked by yobs who tried to set her on fire



A girl of five who is battling cancer is recovering today after two boys sprayed an aerosol in her face and tried to set her alight.

Scarlett Hellewell had to be rescued by neighbours when the boys pinned her down and sprayed the deodorant in her face in Halifax, West Yorks.



She escaped with just bruises after the deodorant failed to ignite.

Attack: Cancer sufferer Scarlett Hellewell, pictured with her mother Paula, was set upon by thugs who sprayed an aerosol in her face and tried to set her alight

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: 'It is reported the girl was playing when she was approached by two young boys who kicked and punched her before spraying an aerosol in her face and attempting to set her alight. The match did not ignite.'

The two young boys, believed to be only 10 and seven, ran off when someone came to Scarlett's help on Tuesday evening.



Officers are appealing for witnesses.

Victim: The five-year-old had to be rescued by neighbours

Scarlett's mother Paula, 38, a home support worker, said she was hoping to move away from the estate where they live.

She told the Yorkshire Post: 'The sooner we move from here the better.

'I was disgusted when I heard what these boys had done, though this is not the first time they have attacked her.

'Scarlett's brain tumour is getting bigger and this was the last thing we needed to happen.'



Neighbour Adele Brearley, 30, told the Yorkshire Post: 'Scarlett was really upset and her eyes were sore where they had sprayed deodorant.



'If they had managed to light the matches it would have been a lot worse.'

Scarlett is suffering from a tumour which has left her blind in one eye and with marginal sight in the other.

Earlier this month the youngster revealed that she and her siblings are selling off their toys to pay for a family holiday before she goes blind.



Scarlett and brother Nathan, 19, Kai, eight, Finlay, six, and sister Hollie, 16, have put their favourite teddy bears, bikes, go-karts, rugby balls, even a Ben-10 pencil case for auction online.

'I want to play on a sunny beach and splash in the sea,' she told the Metro.

'I am selling my bunny rabbit bag and hope to get a pound for it and my doggie that the teacher gave me. I want to raise £2.60 for him.'



Scarlett was born with neurofibromatosis, which normally lies dormant until adult life, but it has struck early.



It causes numerous tumours to grow and one had formed in her brain, affecting her sight and her growth, so although she is only four, she is the size of an eight-year-old.



The youngster is currently undergoing chemotherapy and her family hope that she will be well enough to travel if they raise enough money.



