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French teenagers mug Santa Claus

A group of French teenagers have mugged Father Christmas, attempting to steal his sack of presents.
The man dressed as Santa Claus was handing out sweets in the southern town of Ales when things turned nasty.

One of the teenagers demanded extra sweets and, when the red-cloaked Santa refused, he and his friends started kicking and pummelling the man.

The teenager and his friends, all about 15 years of age, were eventually scared off by passers-by.

Father Christmas suffered multiple bruises and has lodged a criminal complaint, the AFP news agency reported.

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Thug attacks Father Christmas

Eamonn Jessup said he knows his attacker
A north Wales GP dressed as Father Christmas was attacked by a drunken yob as he handed a little boy a lollipop.
Eamonn Jessup was grabbed around the neck and punched as he walked through Prestatyn dressed as Santa.

Dr Jessup, a partner at Pendyffryn practice in the town was playing down the attack on Sunday night.

He has not reported the incident to the police as he said they already have "enough to do".


The 49-year-old who was collecting for the Rotary Club said: "It wasn't a big deal. We'd finished our main round in Prestatyn.....I was walking along and I head two parents saying 'Santa, Santa' and so I rushed off to give their little boy a lollipop.

"This maniac came running, he was screaming, shouting and swearing. He jumped on me and started hitting me.

"I managed to knock him to the ground and then two doormen from a nearby pub came and dragged him off me.

"I think it is a disgrace that somebody could attack Santa Claus," he added.

Mr Jessup said he knows who his 21-year-old attacker is and he said he was as "drunk as a lord".

He said he escaped the attack with a bruised shoulder which has now healed.

The Rotarian said the attack has not stopped him donning the famous red and white costume and he was back as Father Christmas on Wednesday night.

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