Vicious robbers on the rampage

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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A GANG of teenagers launched a savage attack on a man as he walked through Bolton town centre.

Police are now linking the vicious assault to two others in which three people were beaten and robbed late on Sunday and in the early hours of yesterday.

Terry Fletcher was beaten so badly that when he walked into a pub for help, witnesses said he looked like “something out of a horror film”.

The 46-year-old, 6ft tall Royal Mail engineer was punched in the back of the head and knocked to the ground by three attackers in a secluded alleyway near St George’s Street at 9.30pm on Sunday.

Mr Fletcher said: “The first thing I knew was a crack on the back of my head.

“I was on the ground and they were constantly kicking and stamping on my face while asking me questions.

“They were ‘saying where is your stuff ?’”

The three teenagers stole a silver Sekonda watch, a black leather wallet with the word “tough” on it, which contained £120 in cash, bank cards and a driving licence, and Mr Fletcher’s Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 phone.

After the attack, the gang fled towards Higher Bridge Street. Mr Fletcher managed to walk to the Dog and Partridge pub in Manor Street, where he was due to meet friends.

Landlord Neil Piper said: “He looked like something out of Carrie, the horror film, when he entered the pub covered in blood.”

Mr Fletcher was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital, where he received seven stitches behind his left ear, four stitches above his left eyebrow and treatment for a front tooth that had been knocked out.

He said: “I am 6ft, covered in tattoos and have a goatee beard.

“I am an out-and-out pacifist, but I am told I look intimidating.

“I have had a banging headache, bruises on my arms because I was in a defensive position and bruises on my back, and I think I may have cracked a rib.”

About half an hour later, a 38-year-old man and a 26- year-old woman suffered facial injuries after being attacked, and a rucksack they were carrying taken in a robbery in Bark Street at its junction with Knowsely Street.

Just before 1am on Monday, a 51-year-old man was attacked from behind by three men in Folds Road, Tonge Moor.

He had a mobile phone taken and suffered a head injury.

Detectives believe the three robberies are linked.

Anyone with information should call Bolton CID on 0161 8565740, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

[Post Off]

I hope this is an isolated incident that won't be repeated on our streets and in other areas.

My only one piece of advise would be to wear one of those armoured baseball style caps. I have seen them in the past, but I don't know how effective they'd be from a determined, back-of-the (heavy swinging), head-cracking blow.

Funny isn't it, how our nation can get away with using a nuclear deterrent and we, as law abiding citizens have to defend ourselves with little more than our fists. I wouldn't, though, advocate the use of carrying knives for most peeps wouldn't know how to defend themselves with them.

This is very worrying, as it leaves you with no defense at the outset to say, call 999, as you are already without any defense. A friend of mine has done free-style martial arts and Kung Fu, and another friend is a Taekwondo instructor. I, myself have done boxing, but I'm not sure how any of us would faired in a situation like this.

[Wessex]

Lets hope these maniacs are arrested quickly.With these type of crimes I believe the ob have a good success rate at catching the perpetrators.Lets hope so.Im always wary cycling into work of any gangs of young men on their way home.Posties from my do have been attacked before on their way to work sadly

[borders]

if you are attacked from behind and dont see it coming , you have little chance especially if you end up on the ground.
i am always wary on my evening collection round our city centre. i especially hate the big meter boxes where you literally have to get into them to empty them. i have been pushed into them once and banged my head as i attempted to see who did it . luckily it was a couple of teenage girls who thought it was funny !!!
my advice is never drop your guard and if there is any dodgy looking people about , wait until they have passed or moved on.