A 16-YEAR-OLD has appeared in court charged with attempted murder following an attack on a teenager in a park New Malden earlier this year.

The boy, from Croydon, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Kingston Crown Court on Thursday. He was also charged with causing grievous bodily harm, violent disorder and robbery.

Alex Fenton, 18, also of Croydon, appeared at the same time, charged with violent disorder, attempted robbery and causing actual bodily harm.

The pair are accused of carrying out an unprovoked attack on a 16-year-old boy who was playing music with friends in Blagdon Park in April. They are due back in court on August 28.

The boy suffered head injuries but has been released from hospital and is said to be making steady progress.

A police spokesman said: “In April 2009 there was a serious, unprovoked assault in Blagdon Park. There followed a complex investigation that has resulted in two being being charged with offences in relation to it.”

Police have stepped up patrols near the park after a series of unrelated attacks saw a dog walker beaten up and a commuter's handbag stolen.