Man attacked by aggressive thug in front of horrified family outside own house

A man was attacked in front of his horrified family outside his own house by an aggressive thug/

Salim Ahmed had just finished working in his garden during the evening of 26 May when a stranger on Gainsborough Drive, Kirkholt began to shout abusive language at one of Mr Ahmed’s neighbours.

Mr Ahmed said: “I tried to ignore what was happening, because they were only exchanging words and no-one was getting hurt.”

The stranger then diverted his attention to Mr Ahmed, shouting offensive language at him.

Mr Ahmed’s four children, who were awaiting their Ramadan meal indoors, heard the commotion. As they watched in horror from their window, they witnessed the thug approach their father.

“I walked towards my garden gate, asking him to calm down,” Mr Ahmed continued.

However, the thug swung at the father-of-four, hitting him on the head with knuckledusters. With a single blow, Mr Ahmed was knocked to the ground, where the thug continued to punch and kick him where he lay.

He said: “My children were crying in the house, and their mother came rushing from the kitchen to try and defend me, but by then it was all over.”

The thug is then understood to have fled the scene in a silver car, accompanied by a woman and a child.

Mr Ahmed took a taxi to the A&E department at Royal Oldham Hospital.

He added: “Even my neighbours didn’t want to help as he watched the whole incident and told me he didn’t want to get involved.

“I feel like I have received zero help from the police, despite paying council tax towards the service. They had not visited me for information about the attack, or counselled my family as victims.”

A spokesman for the police said: “We were called following reports of an assault at a property in Gainsborough Drive, Rochdale, shortly after 9.20pm on Saturday 26 May 2018.

“A man suffered minor injuries and enquiries are ongoing.”