Attack horror

HORRIFIC injuries . . . Megan Birch

A DISGUSTED mum has hit out after her daughter was savagely attacked but police closed the case within 24 hours.

The late-night assault happened on Huxley Street, Clarksfield, as 18-year-old Megan Birch was walking home from a friend’s house. She knew the assailant who knocked her to the floor, stamped on her head and stabbed her in the leg.

The incident was reported by a friend, who had tried to intervene and suffered injuries in the process. Police officers questioned the accused but he was soon released without charge.

A police spokesman would only say: “No further action was taken due to a lack of evidence.”

Devastated mum Lisa Birch first heard about the attack at 5am on Monday when she received a call from police to say her daughter was in hospital.

Ms Birch now fears for her daughter’s life due to the severity of the attack and says the assailant was heavily intoxicated at the time.

She said: “When I got to the hospital I just broke down, I’ve never seen anything like it before. He’s a danger and I’m terrified he’s going to kill her. Nothing has been done about it, it’s disgusting.

“He told the police he couldn’t remember doing it. Of course he can’t, he was fuelled by cocaine and vodka. Now he’s walking the streets and getting away with it. We’re scared, it’s ruining my life.”

The incident comes after a police watchdog recently raised “significant concerns” about GMP’s handling of domestic abuse.

An inspection by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) questioned GMP’S ability to deal with victims.

Roger Baker, of HMIC, said: “We found serious weaknesses in the understanding of staff about their role and processes. The focus is on offenders. There’s insufficient attention to victims.”

In response, Greater Manchester Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy said: “A lot has been done to support victims but we recognise more can be done.”