Here at Confidential we get inundated with reports, releases and updates from Greater Manchester Police all week long. To put them all up would not only be a logistical nightmare requiring a dedicated news desk of at least 15 interns, but may also make you weep just a little inside. So here's a few:
Friday 9 August: Man Beaten On His Doorstep After Returning From Hospital
On Friday 2 August at around 7.15pm a 51-year-old man was robbed and beaten on the doorstep of his home on Carlton Road, Whalley Range, as he returned from treatment at Manchester Royal Infirmary.
The man, who needs dialysis treatment three times a week, was jumped from behind by two offenders who had followed him home.
Although the victim could not be certain of the ethnicity of the attackers, one of them demanded that the victim hand over his ‘Kara’, a Punjabi word for bangle, suggesting that at least one of the men may have been Asian. The offenders also ripped a £1500 rare necklace with a tiger tooth covered in gold from the victim’s neck.
The two attackers fled after the burglar alarm went off.
Detective Constable Lisa McGrane said: “This was an absolutely disgusting and cowardly attack on a vulnerable and frail man who needs dialysis treatment three times a week for kidney failure. What makes it even more upsetting is that we believe this man has been deliberately targeted as he returned from treatment, as the offenders knew exactly what to ask for and eventually stole a very rare and valuable necklace.”
Anyone with information should call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
The necklace may look something like this
Thursday 8 August: Gunman Jailed For Thirteen Years
Asim Bashir has been sentenced to thirteen years in prison more than five years after he shot a teenager in Denton, Tameside.
Asim BashirIn the early hours of 9 April, the victim, nineteen at the time was confronted at the door of his home by Bashir and two other men on Wordsworth Road, Haughton Green. He closed the door and ran back in to the house but Bashir fired a .357 Magnum Smith and Wesson revolver through the door, hitting the victim in the shoulder.
The three men then left the scene and the victim was taken to the hospital where the bullet was removed.
Police later recovered the gun and more ammunition from Bashir’s home on Parrswood Road on 26 May 2008. While not convicted of involvement in the shooting at the time, Bashir received a six year custodial sentence for possession of a firearm.
In a strange turn of events, the victim of the shooting recounted the story of his shoulder injury to Bashir while both men were in Forest Bank Prison. It was during another investigation that it came to light that Bashir had been the shooter during the incident.
Detective Sergeant Tony Norman, said: “Bashir no doubt thought he had got away with what he did and I imagine he was feeling especially smug when the victim, not knowing he was talking to his attacker, told him about his injured shoulder. Thankfully, after five and a half years, justice has finally caught up with him.”
Wednesday 7 August: Woman Raped By 'Good Samaritan"
A 19-year-old woman has been raped by a man that had offered to drive her to hospital.
On Saturday 3 August at sometime after 6am the woman was walking along Moseley Road in Fallowfield when a man stopped in his car, possibly a taxi, and offered to take the woman to the hospital.
The woman was carrying visible injuries from an earlier unrelated incident.
She was then taken to Nutsford Vale Park in Levenshulme and raped by the man, described as being of mixed race, between 30 and 40 with short dark hair and a foreign accent.
Detective Inspector Simon Davies, of the Serious Sexual Offences Unit, said: "The victim must have initially thought this man was being a knight in shining armour, offering to take her to hospital. However, events rapidly took a turn for the worse and he subjected her to a horrific rape ordeal.
"At this stage we do not know if the man was a legitimate taxi driver or if he simply spotted an opportunity to entice a vulnerable woman into his car.
Police want to hear from anyone that may have seen this car at either the pick-up or the drop off point. Call Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Tuesday 6 August: Shots Fired In Newton:
At around 3am on Saturday 3 August, two men riding a white motorbike fired several shots at a house on Marler Road in Newton before driving off at speed. Luckily, no one was hurt.
Police are stepping up presence in NewtonA 20-year-old man was arrested on Monday 5 August on suspicion of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. There will be an increased police presence in the Marler Road region to reassure residents that Police are investigating the incident.
Detective Inspector Richard Ennis said: “Thankfully no one was hurt but we are treating this extremely seriously and would urge anyone with information to come forward and speak to police.
“We are keen to hear from anyone who was in the area that night who may have either seen or heard a high-powered motorbike at around 3am in the morning.”
Anyone with information should call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Monday 5 August: Four Masked Men Rob Didsbury Restaurant:
Just after midnight on Monday 5 August, four masked men in dark hooded tops walked into Albert’s Restaurant on Barlow Moor Road, threatened staff with knives and machetes and demanded money.
Having stolen a substantial amount, the four men then left in a car, believed to be a white or silver hatchback, driving down Old Lansdowne Road in the direction of Lapwing Lane.
Detective Constable Ed Lister from West Didsbury Police Station said: “Although no one was hurt, the staff members have all been left shaken as the last thing you expect to see when you are finishing work are four men with knives and machetes.
“I would ask anyone, whether it is customers who went to the restaurant or passers-by who saw a similar car parked on this road, to come forward. We are also keen to hear from anyone who witnessed people acting suspiciously in the area while the restaurant was open.”
Anyone with information should phone police on 0161 856 4973 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Alberts, Didsbury
Monday 5 August: GMP Arrest 252 Motorists In Summer Drink Drive Crackdown:
As part of a national summer initiative, Greater Manchester Police carried out 4910 breath tests, of which 252 arrests were made, a conversion of around 5%.
550 of those tests were carried out after collisions and 5 arrests were made after roadside tests confirmed the offenders were driving under the influence of drugs.
GMP launched their road safety campaign, Dicing with Death, after 75 people lost their lives on Greater Manchester roads in 2011, an increase on the previous year of a startling 42%.
Inspector John Armfield, GMPs lead on drink driving, said: “With the warmer weather and longer evenings there is the temptation for people to have one or two drinks outside after work and then drive home, but this is exactly the type of scenario that can lead to drink driving.”
GMP breathalyzer
Sunday 4 August: Man Exposes Himself To Jogger:
A man pulled down his shorts and indecently exposed himself to a woman out jogging on Broadway towards Foxdenton Lane, Chadderton, at around 8.25pm on 27 July.
The man, described as white, in his late 40s to early 50s, had dark hair and was wearing a skin coloured t shirt, black shorts, black shoes and carrying two bags on his back and a khaki coloured guitar case.
Police Constable Michael Greaney said: "This incident happened on a sunny evening and we believe there may have been a lot of people sat outside the Ancora restaurant either eating, drinking or smoking who may have either seen what happened or recognise the man himself.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Saturday 3 August: Cyclist Dies After City Centre Collision:
Jaye BloomfieldA cyclist, since named as Town Hall worker, Jaye Bloomfield, 44, has died after a collision with a car at around 3pm on a slip road heading from Princess Road to Mancunian Way.
Police and paramedics were called to the scene but Jaye was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the black Seat Leon, a 40-year-old man, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
The slip road on to Mancunian Way
Saturday 3 August: Driver Hit By A Missile:
A woman was hit in the temple by a missile thrown through her car window as she was driving along Edge Lane in Droylsden at around 2.40pm on 27 July.
The missile left the woman with a puncture wound that later required hospital treatment.
It is reported by witnesses that a group of three youths were seen hanging around on a grassy verge by Bradford Garage overlooking the road between 2pm and 2.45pm. They were seen to be throwing stones, eggs, and branches at passing traffic. They were also placing large branches in the road causing cars to swerve around them.
Police are appealing to anyone with information to come forward and call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The grassy knoll
