Knife victim’s police anger

BLOODIED . . . Craig and his blood-stained T-shirt

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

U-turn after slashed and beaten Craig told ‘there’s no case’
A builder was left furious after police initially closed a case despite him being slashed, stabbed, beaten and the victim of a car crash.

Craig Crowther of Lancaster Street, Chadderton, was lured to a house and attacked by four men, leaving him with a large slash under his left armpit, stab wounds on the back of his neck and cuts and bruises.

Police initially told him they would not be bringing any charges despite knowing who carried out the assault and said the inquiry was closed.

But after being contacted by the Chronicle, a review of the case has resulted in further action and the likelihood of arrests.

Craig has contacted the Police Complaints Commission and is seeking legal advice.

His ordeal started on September 1, when he was working at a house in Bardsley. A neighbour reversed his car into Craig’s van but sped off after refusing to exchange insurance details. Craig reported the matter to police. A few days later, the neighbour contacted Craig to say he would pay for the damage and asked him to call and collect the money.

As Craig stepped into the house, he was attacked by four men, who beat him up and stabbed him with a Stanley knife.

Though he ran from the house, the gang chased him and the attack continued. Neighbours saw the attack and called police. The attackers ran off and threw the knife away.

Craig (28) was taken to the Royal Oldham Hospital where his wounds were stitched.

But after his discharge from hospital, police told him they wouldn’t be pursuing either the crash or the assault.

He said: “I am absolutely fuming. I can’t believe no further action is being taken. I was stabbed — how can that just be brushed aside? I know who did it and the police know who did it. I don’t understand why nothing further is being done.”

A police spokesman said while case was initially dropped, a review by a senior officer led it to be continued.

The spokesman confirmed: “This crime is still being investigated by police in the CID at Oldham and it is being overseen by a detective inspector.”


Only a small number of our daily stories appear, heavily edited, on this site. For the full story read our print or eChron editions.
Follow us on Twitter - @OldhamChronicle