Have-a-go hero ‘lucky to be alive’ after moped gang’s sword attack

A MOPED gang rammed a stolen car into a luxury jewellers before stabbing and slashing a have-a-go hero who tried to stop them.

Builder Petar Dimov now walks with a limp and battles a lung infection caused by the stabbing with a samurai sword, a court was told.

Miguel St Martin, 21, Harry Doyle, 18, Reece Salmon, 22, and Alfie Warry, 21, are all accused of being part of the gang that carried out raids at Boodles and Yves Saint Laurent in London’s West End last spring.

Michael Shaw, prosecuting, said: “These four planned and carried out two attacks in particular. The first was on a shop in Knightsbridge, called Boodles.”

Armed with axes, hammers and samurai swords the gang used a stolen Land Rover to try to smash their way in.

When Mr Dimov tried to intervene he was attacked with the sword and the axes before the gang rode off empty handed on mopeds.

In a statement read to the jury Mr Dimov said: “One of the men was running at me with what I thought was a metal bar but now know was a sword.

“I grappled with this male but was then attacked by more men who hit me with an axe.”

He added: “For me this whole incident has affected me very deeply psychologically. It is far, far worse than the physical injuries.

“I am a big and physically strong man. I can deal with the pain and the physical discomfort, but I am deeply troubled by the emotional aspects of this attack.”

He added: “I feel lucky to still be alive.”

The trial continues.