Browse Sections

• School league tables

'Cowardly thugs must be caught'

Helen Clifton
4/ 1/2008

A MAN beaten up and stabbed by a gang of youths as he walked through a Stretford park on Christmas Eve, has branded his attackers ‘cowards’ and said their next victim might not be so lucky.

David Deveaux, 56, was pinned down on the floor for around five minutes while the three teenagers repeatedly kicked and punched his face and body in Longford Park at around 5.45pm on Monday, December 24.

The gang, who were all on bikes and wearing scarves, also stabbed him in the face and buttocks in the attack.

He said: “One of them tried to stab me in the eye – I don’t know whether it was a screwdriver or a knife.

“They stabbed me in the back, and as I fell over, one of them knelt on me while the other two were kicked and punched me.

“I pleaded with them to stop, telling them I have heart problems, but they just carried on.

“If I had passed out nobody would have found me until the next morning.”

The attack began after Mr Deveaux was approached for money by the gang while walking near the park’s aviary.

After the attack the boys rode their bikes off towards the Quadrant roundabout.

Mr Deveaux, of Chorlton, said: “It took me 15 minutes to get out of the park, I was blinded by the blood in my eyes.

“I would like to thank the people who helped me and came to my aid – I don’t know who they are.”

The joiner was then rushed to Manchester Royal Infirmary – but despite his injuries, he managed to spend Christmas Day with his mother in Lancaster.

Mr Deveaux regularly walked in the park three or four times a week to help his blood pressure, but says he will now keep away.

He said: “I am not going in there again. It is too dangerous.

“I am only going to walk in places where there are a lot of people and it is not dark.

“Physically, I will be back, but I’m not sure how long it will take me psychologically.

“I was lucky this time, but there are many people who would not have walked away. I don’t know how long the scars will stay with me.

“If anybody knows anything about these people, I would say ‘just give them up’. The next person is going to be killed. They are just cowards.”

Detective Constable Mark Tolan from Stretford CID said: “This was a vicious attack at a time of year when people are expected to show goodwill towards one another.

“David told his attackers that he did not have any money on him but they still went on to assault him.

“I would ask anyone who knows anything about the people responsible to contact the police.

“These individuals are obviously dangerous and need to be stopped.”

The offenders are described as white men, aged 18, who were wearing scarves covering their faces.

One of them was described as being very tall and the others were 5ft 4in - 5ft 5in tall. They all spoke with local accents.

Anyone with information about the attack can call Stretford CID on 0161 856 7672 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Most recent 2 of 2 user comments