A TEENAGER thought he was going to die when he was pinned to the ground and mutilated by a gang of laughing youths who cut the letters “TST” into his stomach.

The 16-year-old has been left traumatised after the attack by seven thugs in Middlesbrough on Monday afternoon.

The all-male gang, one of whom had a Staffordshire terrier, laughed as they tortured the boy. The letters “TST” are believed to be the group’s “tag” or calling card.

The victim, who does not want to be named, was walking from his home to Tesco at about 2pm when he was called over to look at something by the hooded mob on a footpath next to the crematorium in Acklam Road.

He said: “I thought it best to go over than to say “no” and have them follow me home.

“The next thing I knew I was on the ground and had my legs and arms splayed and pinned down. Someone was even standing on my shoulders so I couldn’t lift my head.”

One of the gang then sat on his chest and pulled his Tshirt over his head.

He said: “I knew something bad was going to happen, it was terrifying. I could feel a sharp pain across my chest, it was agonising but I stayed quiet in case they did something even worse.”

The group gouged the initials into his stomach in 2inhigh letters with what he thinks was a woodknife.

The boy said: “I didn’t know how it was going to end. It went through my head that this was it – I was going to die.”

The student has only been living in Middlesbrough for two months since moving to the North-East with his family from the South.

But his father said they would definitely not be driven out of the area by the assault.

He said: “His physical scars will heal, but the mental ones will take longer. Until this, everyone we have met in Middlesbrough has been welcoming and friendly. They were mindless youths and we will not be driven out by them. It’s wrong to live in fear.”

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said: “Police are appealing for information to this nasty and unusual attack on a 16-year-old boy in Middlesbrough.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Jessica Shann on 01642-303126 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800-555-111.”