‘I WAS GETTING PUNCHED AND KICKED... ONE HAD A KNIFE’

Masked gang attack dad and steal scooter

A DAD has told how he was brutally attacked by a masked gang who then stole his electric scooter.

James Phillips was visiting his fiveyear-old daughter in Stoke-on-trent when the muggers pounced.

The 29-year-old says he jumped on his £500 Segway-ninebot scooter to ride to the shop. But as he exited the driveway and began to make his way up Edenhurst Avenue in Meir, James claims he was punched in the face. He then says he was repeatedly kicked and punched as he lay on the ground.

Of his three assailants, James, below, believes he recognised one of them and has passed the details on to the police.

James said: “I saw someone walk past the front garden. All of a sudden, someone punched me in the face and I fell off my scooter.

“I had a scuffle with them and I was getting punched and kicked while on the floor. One of them had a knife in his hand which I kicked out.

“I shouted at my step-mum and she came out. By this time we were in the middle of the road scuffling.

“Two of them picked up my electric scooter and ran off with it towards the petrol station. The main attacker got back up and jumped through the railway line.”

James, from Bristol, rang Staffordshire Police with officers coming out to take a statement. But despite giving them the name of one of the men he believes attacked him, James says nothing has been done.

He is also keen to be reunited with his scooter which has LED lights, flashing red, blue and green.

He added: “I’ve given evidence to the police but they say there’s nothing they can do unless they find the mask in this person’s property so I am not happy.”

A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: “We were called to an address following reports of a robbery. The victim, a man in his 20s, was assaulted by a group of three masked men in the street. They took his black e-scooter.

“One of the suspects left in the direction of Applewood Crescent. The other two headed towards a petrol station on Uttoxeter Road. They were all wearing dark clothing.

“We spoke to the victim who was left shaken but unhurt. We examined CCTV footage and have conducted door-to-door inquiries.”

Witnesses should call the police on 101, or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.