It was Halloween when every parent’s worst nightmare became a reality for a mum-of-three. Her son, who does not wish to share his name, was riding his bike through Debdale Park in Gorton at around 6.30pm when he noticed a gang of balaclava-clad teens ahead of him.
As the 15-year-old went to pass them near the reservoir, they stopped him. They asked him where he was from before one reached out and grabbed his handlebars.
“He knew they wanted his bike,” his mum told the Manchester Evening News . “He saved up all of his pocket money and his birthday money and bought himself that bike.”
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She became emotional as she described what happened next. “They made him get off his bike and get onto his knees,” she said. “Then they put a knife to his throat.”
The teenager managed to escape and ran home to safety. One member of the group attempted to chase him but eventually gave up.
“Just me telling you now, I can feel my eyes welling up,” the mum, from Reddish, said. “There was another one in the background with a knife, too. Not just a kitchen knife – it was a combat knife.
“He ran away; one did chase him and then gave up because he was fast. It wasn’t nice at all.”
Though the attackers were wearing balaclavas and face coverings, the year 10 pupil believed they were all aged between 14 and 15. The incident has since been reported to police.
“It’s absolutely awful,” his 46-year-old mum added. “I’ve always said to [my children] if anything happens to hand over the phone, bike and money.
“Although they’re home safe, you keep replaying it in your mind. He thinks he’s street wise, but he’s not.
“As a parent, you almost go through the ‘What if?’ scenarios in your mind - you can’t help it.”
His mum has arranged for her son to see a school counsellor and is currently trying to get him booked in to see a doctor.
“He says he’s okay, but as a mum, I know he’s not,” she continued. “He’s not even mentioned that he wants another bike.
“I’ve told him he can have a friend here with him this weekend, I would rather that. I’d rather they be here under this roof than be out because I’m on pins.”
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police confirmed an investigation into the incident has now been completed and a potential suspect has been identified. The suspect is has been circulated as wanted on their systems and enquiries are ongoing to locate and arrest them.
The force added that a local neighbourhood policing team currently have an operation ongoing to target groups within the Gorton area who they believe may be engaged in knife crime and antisocial behaviour. GMP say they have upped high visibility patrols to identify and arrest any offenders.
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