Salford axe victim thanks armed raiders for life

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A pensioner smashed over the head with an axe by armed robbers in Salford has thanked them for sparing his life and told them to change their ways.

The 66-year-old, who has not been named, tried to protect a woman, 37, who was being chased by the robbers into Boothstown post office on Monday.

He tried to fight off the attackers but was hit with the axe, suffering a chipped skull, needing nine stitches.

Police released a letter from the victim, and CCTV, on Thursday.

It read: "I saw your eyes a couple of seconds after you used the axe on me. You weren't panicking, you were calm.

"I think you said, 'Sorry mate, only doing a job, but you'll be alright.'

"I think you made a conscious decision and I thank you for allowing me to keep my life."

'Worth more'
He added: "I'll probably do the same again if it happens and I hope you get what you deserve for your actions, but I sincerely hope you can change your lifestyle.

"You're worth more than this.

"Think of yourself, your parents and your family and pack it in and give yourself a chance of a life because if you don't there will come a time when you meet someone like yourself, but he'll be carrying a bigger axe."

The raiders escaped from the post office, in Leigh Road, in a waiting blue Volvo S60, registration EU51 NRN, which was found abandoned on the car park of The Colliers Arms pub on Sale Lane in nearby Tyldesley, a short time later.

Det Con Mark Cole, of Greater Manchester Police, praised the man's actions and said his injuries could have been "far worse".

He urged anyone with information about the incident, at 1030 GMT on Monday, to contact police.