Homeless attacker blames ‘spice rage’

A GANG of homeless men attacked and stabbed a victim in Manchester city centre after he had tried to save his girlfriend from their clutches, a court heard.

The victim emerged from a shop to protect his girlfriend who had become involved in a row with the group of men – only to be stabbed twice and beaten to the ground, where he was kicked and stamped on.

Only two of the attackers have been brought to justice, with one of them blaming ‘spice rage’. Both pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Jeremy Lasker, prosecuting, told Manchester Crown Court that the victim was attacked by a group of men after he went to the aid of his girlfriend who had become involved in a ‘verbal exchange’ with the gang about nationality.

The ‘unprovoked attack’ happened when the victim came out of a Co-op on High Street in Manchester city centre at 8pm on February 24, 2018, and he ‘walked into an argument’, according to the prosecutor.

The victim was stabbed twice, as well as being repeatedly kicked and stamped on.

Police were only able to identify two members of the gang, homeless men Kyle Yates and Ryan Hughes.

Detectives were unable to establish who had stabbed the victim but found that Yates had repeatedly stamped on his head.

When he was arrested, Yates admitted he was one of the men who could be seen on CCTV.

Hughes was arrested and admitted during his police interview he had also been involved, although he denied stabbing the man or knowing who the stabber was. He blamed ‘spice rage’.

Yates, 23, of Old Road in Failsworth, was jailed for two years.

Hughes, 26, of Pool Bank Street in Middleton, was handed a twoyear suspended sentence. Hughes was also handed 80 hours unpaid work and must do a 25-day rehabilitation activity.