Two hunted after violent robbery

POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a 24-year-old man was violently robbed of his mobile phone as he walked down an alleyway in Werneth.

The victim was approached by a man who asked him for the time on Napier Street East at around 11.30am on Thursday.

As the victim reached into his pocket to take out his phone and check the time, a second man appeared behind him and hit him on the back of the head, causing him to fall forwards.

The thieves then grabbed his upper arms and stole his black and blue Samsung mobile phone, as well as his wallet containing cash and personal items before fleeing the scene.

The first offender was described as Asian, in his late teens to early 20s, about 6ft tall and of a medium build. He had a long, thin face, with a neat black goatee and spoke with a local accent.

He was wearing an Ed Harvey black hooded-top with a zip and a large white skull emblem that went around both sides of the zip, emblazoned with snakes and diamond studs and the brand logo in red.

He was also wearing black Adidas tracksuit bottoms and a gold ring on his left hand.

The second man was Asian, about 5ft 7in tall, of a slim build and wearing a red hooded top and dark jeans.

PC Martin Wildman said: “These two men were obviously desperate as they committed this violent robbery in daylight and made little attempt to conceal their identity.

“One of the offenders was wearing extremely distinctive clothing so I want to firstly appeal to anyone who was in the Napier Street East area at about the time of this robbery and who remembers seeing this man to come forward.

“Secondly, I want to appeal to anyone who knows someone with this very distinctive jacket.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 0161-856 9578 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800-555 111.