Express & Star

Caught on video: Horror attack as robber knocks birthday man unconscious

This is the horrific moment a man is knocked out by thieves who ambushed him before picking his pockets as he lay unconscious.

Published

The victim was kicked and stamped in on the unprovoked attack on a city street after he had celebrated his birthday.

One of the robbers threw a ceramic plate at the 51-year-old, hitting him on the arm and prompting him to turn around.

A second man appears and punches the victim, knocking him out, before rifling through the victims pockets and stealing his watch and mobile phone.

The first thug strides around the motionless victim, repeatedly kicking him in the head and delivering several final punches before they both walk off.

A concerned passer-by stopped to call the emergency services

More than a dozen other witnesses can be seen driving along as the attack was happening and the victim today encouraged them to speak to detectives.

Speaking anonymously today, the victim said: "I urge you to come forward and furnish the police with information which could assist and lead to the conviction and imprisonment of these perpetrators and cowards.

"This community will not tolerate or accept crimes such as the one inflicted on myself and people should be safeguarded from these thugs."

"On the advice of others, I have chosen not to view the CCTV, but I want such cowardly perpetrators to know the psychological damage you inflict on innocent people can be irreparable."

And in a message to the robbers, he said: "The community abhors your crimes and looks forward to you being caught, convicted and removed from our streets."

Ch Insp Dawn Miskella, from Birmingham CID, said: "The footage speaks for itself ? it was an absolutely horrendous, unprovoked attack on an innocent man who was making his way home from a night out, leaving him with long-lasting injuries.

"He suffered extensive cuts to his face and head which required stitches and will leave permanent scarring, along with other cuts and bruises to his body. There's also the psychological impact of the assault and, of course, the loss of his watch and phone.

"I would appeal directly to those people who drove past the scene as the robbery was taking place to please come forward and speak to us. You may not have realised what was going on at the time, but your information could be vital in helping us find the people responsible."

The attack happened outside the Bordesley Green surgery on Bordesley Green Road, at the junctions with Pikewater Road and Whitehall Road, at around 1.10am on December 15.

CI Miskella added: "Crimes like this are thankfully rare and robberies in Birmingham are continuing to fall. Statistics show a decrease in robbery offences in this area of Birmingham of five per cent so far this year compared to the same period in 2013, which equates to 54 fewer victims."

Contact Birmingham CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.