Father cut in unprovoked attack
A father-of-two was repeatedly slashed with a craft knife and beaten by a gang of youths in a savage unprovoked attack as he walked home from a wedding.
Richard Nicholls was returning from the reception at the Hen House Pub in Hednesford to his home in the Longford area of Cannock with a friend when they were set upon at around 1.30am on Sunday morning.
The 28-year-old builder said a dark green or black Renault Saxo or Clio type car with three men inside drove past them on Rugeley Road near to Rawnsley Road, shouting abuse.
He said: "We told them to get lost and they drove off but a few minutes later they came back and there were five or six of them. My mate was kicked to the ground and the others, including one with a craft knife, came at me."
Mr Nicholls suffered 11 stab and slash wounds as well as being badly beaten. He required 16 stitches in his face, two head wounds had to be glued and he suffered slash wounds to his chest, plus extensive cuts and bruising. His friend was not badly hurt.
Luckily, a driver saw what was happening and pulled over causing the attackers to flee. He gave the injured pair a lift to Mr Nicholls' mother's home from where he was taken to Stafford Hospital by a friend.
Mr Nicholls said: "I don't really remember much about the attack. The man who helped us was driving a black Ford Focus and was bald and stocky. I would like to thank him and also ask him to come forward to help the police."
Mr Nicholls' partner, hairdresser Natasha Causer, aged 25, said she and her children, aged six and two burst into tears when they saw him. She said: "It was a terrible shock."
The attackers are described as white. Mr Nicholls said the one with the knife had a shaved head and big ears.
Anyone with information should call police on 0300 123 4455 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
