MAN SLASHED IN THE FACE AFTER REFUSING TEEN GANG A GO ON HIS SKATEBOARD
Gang slash skateboarder’s face with knife
THE family of a skateboarder have told how he was lucky not to lose his eye after being slashed in the face in a gang attack.
Dan Thomas was on his way home when he was confronted by three teenagers who demanded a go on his board.
But when the 21-year-old refused, one of the yobs pulled out a knife and sliced his forehead open just above his right eye.
Now police have launched an investigation into the attack, which happened in Bathpool Park, Kidsgrove, close to the ski slope at around 11.30pm on Monday (October 12).
His mum Michelle Thomas, aged 50, from Kidsgrove, told The Sentinel: “He was just out on his skateboard down at the park. He’d only gone out for half-an-hour.
“He was under the bridge and these three youths were coming towards him.
“As they were passing, they moved across and one of them said ‘give us a go on your board’. He knew they were going to rob him or break it anyway so he refused.
“That’s when one of them pulled out a knife and slashed him across the face. Dan then fell to the floor.
“Thank God one ran off in one direction and the other two legged it the other way towards Peacocks and that was it.
“All three were really young, maybe only 14. They all looked the same in black tracksuits, maybe Nike or Adidas.
“Dan then came home covered in blood. He was in shock and we stayed up for a few hours. We rang the police and they came out to speak to him the next day.
“I patched up his wound but ended up taking him to Haywood Hospital, and he’s had the wound glued and taped. He actually even went to work and he’s coping really well.
“It’s so lucky that the knife missed his eye. He could have been blinded or, even worse, stabbed and killed as he was on the ground.
“I was in shock when it happened but two days on it’s really hit me what happened. It’s dreadful.
“It was just brutal and completely unprovoked. There was no need. They’re just little thugs who think they rule the place.
“I don’t know who they think they are. They act so big, but they’re just cowards.”
Michelle is now calling for CCTV to be installed in the park.
She added: “It’s quite lit up down there and it’s usually quiet, but more of these knife crimes are happening lately. There have been two other stabbings there that I know of.
“We only live a few minutes away from the park and it’s a lovely place but it’s becoming a no-go area at night. There needs to be cameras down there and in all parks.
“Dan wanted to put what happened to him out there to warn others. The response has been fantastic. We just hope the police can catch them.”
A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: “Police were contacted at 12.30am on Tuesday with a report of an assault at Bathpool Park in
Kidsgrove, near to the Ski Centre.
“Officers are appealing for any witnesses.”
Anyone with information is urged to call 101, or report online, quoting incident number 17 of October 13.