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LEFT for dead ... John Owen said he pleaded with the gang to stop but they continued their relentless assault, beating him unconscious before leaving him on a grass verge
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'Gang laughed as they kicked me ... I could have died'
Damon Wilkinson22/ 3/2008
A GANG of thugs laughed as they kicked, stamped and jumped on a man’s head as he walked home from a party.
John Owen said he pleaded with the gang to stop but they continued their relentless assault, beating him unconscious before leaving him on a grass verge.
He was left with a broken eye socket, broken nose, broken wrist, smashed teeth and serious bruising following the brutal attack at about 3am last Saturday.
The 22-year-old former York University drama student, of Newark Road, Syke, was walking along Oldham Road close to its junction with Woodbine Street with his brother Peter when they were approached by six men who demanded money and cigarettes.
Peter, aged 20, ran off to get help, but the thugs rounded on John, an insurance broker, who is hoping to go back to university in September to study to be a teacher, and punched him to the floor.
A witness dialled 999 and the former St Cuthbert’s High School pupil was taken to Rochdale Infirmary.
He told the Observer: "I vividly remember them laughing as they kicked me. I could have been dead for all they knew, but they continued to kick me.
"They just went for my head and face, I haven’t got a scratch on most of the rest of my body.
"When I regained consciousness I thought I was blind.
"I couldn’t see or feel anything and that frightened the life out of me.
"It was just senseless and dangerous.
"I hope I am the last person they are allowed to do this to."
John’s mum Ann said: "I feel sorry for the families of the people who did this because they have raised cruel, sadistic animals. John tried to get up twice and told them he had had enough but they kept kicking him and jumping on his head until he was unconscious.
"Then they left him for dead on a grass verge.
"He is not cocky, he is just an ordinary lad who was in the wrong place at the wrong time."
The attack was witnessed by drinkers in the Prince Albert pub and customers in a nearby kebab shop.
The family is appealing for them to come forward and help catch the thugs.
She added: "If witnesses are scared of coming forward it means these animals are winning and they should not be allowed to get away with it."
Detective Constable Sam Halligan said: "The victim suffered very nasty injuries. His attackers really set upon him and his injuries could have been even worse.
"It only takes one act of aggression that goes too far and we are dealing with a fatality.
"There were a lot of drinkers in the Prince Albert pub, customers in a kebab shop and passing motorists who might have seen the attack and I would urge them to come forward and help with our investigation."
Witnesses should contact Rochdale CID on 0161 856 4646 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Most recent 2 of 17 user comments
What is the matter with people these days that we have become a nation of frightened sheep?
It is in all our interests to report this heinous crime.
3/04/2008 at 22:54
Got an opinion you want to share?Do you think Rochdale is unfairly portrayed in the national media?
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My own personal philosophy now is to turn a blind eye unless my family is troubled, then I would react with extreme force and have no mercy.
Of course if one is to act in such a manner you would suffer the consequences, but if it was my family I would accept this.
6/04/2008 at 13:34