Knife raider threatened to slice up dog
BUS DRIVER ROBBED IN PARK BY MOTORBIKE THUG WIELDING BLADE WHO SNATCHED WATCH AND PHONE
A BUS driver has described the terrifying moment a motorbike thug threatened to slice his dog ‘to ribbons’ with a hunting knife as he was robbed in a park.
Tim Hazlehurst was walking in Stamford Park, Stalybridge, on Sunday night, when he was confronted by the knife-wielding robber.
He says the motorcyclist initially approached him to ask for the time and caught sight of his expensive Tag Heuer, before driving off.
The 49-year-old says the thug then returned and pointed a knife at him before chasing him and threatening to kill his dog, Buddy.
The robber then fled with Tim’s £1,200 watch and his phone.
The school bus driver said: “I was walking through the park after going for a pint. No one was around and I heard a motorbike coming.
“I moved to the side and the rider said, in a really strong scouse accent, ‘what time is it?’
“I looked at my watch and told him the time, then thought nothing of it. Then he went away.”
To his horror, the motorcyclist returned to block Tim’s path, then reached into his pocket for a hunting knife.
When he returned Tim says he seemed ‘confused,’ ‘frantic’ and ‘agitated.’
Tim ran for his life, but when he got to the bottom of the park, he hit the floor, and turned to see the yob was holding a blade to his dog.
“He said: ‘I’m going to kill your dog, I’m going to cut him to ribbons,’ as he held on to him. I thought he was going to stab me.”
He says the man demanded Tim handed over his possessions.
The man then sped away, leaving Tim on the floor with his cocker spaniel.
The victim says he staggered to a nearby pub with his arm pouring with blood. Tim said: “I have been pretty shaken up. It’s horrific that someone can do that to a dog. If that was a pensioner, what could have happened? It’s traumatising.”
The man, who was riding a white scrambler and wore a black jacket and grey tracksuit bottoms, is described as a white male, about 6ft, and between the ages of 20 and 30.
A police spokeswoman said: “Police are investigating the circumstances around this incident.”
Call police on 101 if you have any information.