IN the interests of fairness and truth, I must be allowed to comment on your story (Assault leaves soccer dreams in tatters, The Press, January 17).

My assistant head teacher investigated the incident and took many witness statements, including a verbal and a written statement from Joe Sawyer. The three boys have now apologised to Joe for the attack on him, and Joe has apologised to them for the inaccurate comments he gave to The Press.

I would like to make it clear there was no sustained round of blows to the face and head down by the shops. Joe did hit back.

Joe's nose was not broken by a boy from his own year. The real attack happened on school site. Joe did not report the real attack to us: it was stopped by our staff.

Neither in his interview with us nor in his statement for us did Joe mention sticks and cans being thrown. The boys have already been punished for what they actually did to Joe.

It is not fair on them that this inaccurate account punishes them a second time.

Lots of people in school know their names. It is only fair to them that the inaccuracies told about them are put right.

Chris Bridge, Head teacher, Huntington School, York.