Police are appealing for information
The victim was making his way home from the Liverpool v Brighton game when the incident took place
The victim was making his way home from the Liverpool v Brighton game when the incident took place(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
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A football fan said he "feared for his life" after being allegedly attacked and threatened with a knife by a gang as he walked home after a match. The man, who does not wish to be named, had been attending the Liverpool v Brighton game on Saturday, February 14.
He said he left the stadium five minutes before full-time and was making his way home through Stanley Park when the incident happened. According to the victim, he noticed two people he believed to be drug dealing near the bridge in the park but continued on his way. As he reached the end of the bridge, he said two young men wearing brown camouflage jackets approached him.
The victim told the ECHO: "As I got off the bridge, one of them tried to take my hat. I turned around and asked them what they were doing. They turned around and started swearing at me, saying 'what are you going to do?'"
The man said he continued walking towards Langham Street when another male, who he had seen earlier near the bridge, approached him and began questioning him.
"He started asking me where I'm from. Before I could answer, I could hear people running. I turned round and I saw a group of lads running towards me.
"The one talking to me punched me, and then they all jumped on me, kicking me in my head twice."
He alleges the male punched him before the gang, which he estimates numbered around six and were aged between 14 and 21, knocked him to the ground and began kicking him, including twice to the head.
During the assault, he claims one member of the group produced a knife.
He said: "One of the lads brought a knife out of his trousers. It was like a small kitchen knife with a skinny blade. He lunged at me but one of his friends said, 'No, lad, don't do that, stop.' He looked around and put it back in his trousers."
The man said he was left shaken and in pain. He suffers from arthritis in both hips and has since experienced knee pain, which he believes was caused during the attack.
He added: "I'd been kicked in the head twice so I only had time to process what had happened later on. I was in fear for my life. I thought I was about to get stabbed."
He managed to get back to his feet and ran towards a better-lit area before contacting police. Describing the scene, he said: "From the fields all the way to Langham Street it was so dark. I couldn't look for help because of the darkness."
The man is now appealing for witnesses to come forward, believing other football supporters may have seen the group before or after the incident. He also believes the attack may have been racially motivated, claiming he has previously experienced racial abuse in the city.
He said: "I think it was racially motivated because this has happened to me so much in Liverpool, but not to this extent where someone has tried to stab me. I don't want to go to matches anymore because I’m terrified of something like that happening again."
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "We are appealing for information following an attempted robbery in Walton on Saturday 14 February.
"It was reported that just after 5.15pm six males assaulted a man in Stanley Park and tried to take his hat from his head and the victim fled on foot out the park. It was reported that one of the offenders had a knife. No injuries were reported from the victim.
"Officers attended and carried out a search of the area and CCTV enquiries are being carried out.
"Patrols have been stepped up in the park and surrounding area."
Anyone with information should contact Merseyside Police social media desk via X @MerPolCC or on Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ with crime reference 26000126167.
You can also report information via the police website: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ or call 101.
Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency always call 999.
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