Phone robbers stab man in back
AFORMER cage fighter was stabbed in the back after refusing to hand over his mobile phone to three teenage robbers.
James Harker, 32, had to stay in hospital overnight following the attack on Neville Street, Hazel Grove, on Thursday night.
He was walking home from the train station, after enjoying an evening out with colleagues when he was confronted by the gang.
One produced a knife and when James, who used to fight at a semi-pro level until his late 20s, tried to escape he was stabbed.
He now wants to warn other people of the potential danger and says it was only the fact he had been wearing a leather jacket and bag over his shoulder that spared him serious injury.
James, who suffered a puncture wound, said: “I feel lucky I was wearing the bag and leather jacket as they took the brunt of it. What would have happened if I didn’t?
“I was shaken as I thought the chances of them using the knife were slim.
“I didn’t think they would stab me over a phone, given they would be in a lot more trouble for using the knife.
“It is frustrating people think they can do this kind of thing. I’m not adverse to confrontation and don’t get intimidated easily so there was no way they were getting my phone.”
The attempted robbery happened around 11.30pm and James immediately reported it to police from a nearby friend’s house.
The gang are described as three white males, aged 15 to 18, 5ft 8in to 5ft 10in tall, all with fairly short, dark hair.
One had curly hair and they all wore sports clothing and hooded tops.
James, who works in Manchester city centre as a design engineer, was taken to Stepping Hill Hospital.
After a scan he was trans- ferred to Manchester Royal Infirmary’s trauma unit and discharged around 7am the next day.
He said: “I would be the same again, once they stop you then you are at their mercy anyway and could stab you even if you hand what they want over.
“The main thing is I just want people to be aware that this event took place, both in the hope of catching them and also to make others aware of the dangers present in the area.”
Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.