I fear for my son after meeting internet girlfriend halfway across the UK

DEAR DEIDRE: MY son really wants to meet his internet girlfriend but I’m scared to let him out of my sight.

He’s 16 and studying for his GCSEs. He’s hoping to go to college next year to study sports.

I never used to worry about him but last year he had his new iPhone snatched by a mugger on a moped.

Since then I’ve been a nervous wreck thinking he could have been stabbed or, worse, killed.

He changed after the mugging. He became more withdrawn and a lot of his school friends drifted away.

Now all he does apart from school is kick a football around on his own or play games on his computer. I’ve often thought he seems pretty depressed.

He has met this girl on an online gaming forum. She’s 16, too.

They seem to get on really well, talking and gaming every night. I can hear him laughing in his bedroom.

He really wants to meet her in person but she lives at the other end of the country.

Even though he’s a sensible lad, I’m terrified to let him travel that far by himself. Am I being overprotective?

DEIDRE SAYS:  You’re not being overprotective. You’re trying to keep your son safe.

I’m not surprised he seems withdrawn since he was mugged.

The teenage years are hard enough with exam stress and changing hormones.

Being attacked on top of all that must have been traumatising.