Man’s jaw broken by phone thieves

A GANG of youths viciously attacked and robbed a man in Alt as he walked to a takeaway.

The 41-year-old victim was in Abbeyhills Road at 11pm on Friday, July 30, when he walked past the gang.

One of them asked him for a cigarette before punching him in the face.

He fell to the floor and was set upon by a number of attackers who rained down punches and kicks. They stole his mobile phone then ran off.

He suffered a broken jaw in two places, a broken nose, a swollen left hand and minor cuts and bruises.

As a result of the attack, the victim has had to have metal plates inserted in his jaw for the rest of his life.

The first offender is described as aged about 21, of slim build, around 6ft tall with jaw-length blond hair with a fringe. He was clean-shaven with a gaunt face and prominent cheek bones and spoke with a strong Mancunian accent. He was wearing a black or blue hooded top with ‘busted’ written across the back of it and baggy blue jeans.

The second was white, aged about 17, with stocky build, about 5ft 4in tall, with blond or mousy short hair. He had a flat bulbous nose and was wearing a black cotton padded jacket, possibly a hoody, with large pocket across the front with a zip fastener. He also wore black or dark blue tracksuit bottoms and black Nike trainers

PC Ian Stockwell of Oldham volume crime team said: “This man was subjected to a horrible attack just for the sake of a mobile phone.

“I want to reassure the victim and the wider community that we are determined to catch the attackers.

“I also want to hear from a man who came to the victim’s aid — he could hold vital information that could help us.”

Anyone with inform-ation is asked to call Oldham Volume Crime Team on 0161-856 9015 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555 111.