Victims pushed into canal during attacks

Officers have stepped-up undercover patrols around the towpath near to Wolverhampton Racecourse in Dunstall following a spate of attacks.

Victims have ranged from 40 to 71. Cyclist Christopher Fitzgerald, from Parkfields, and pictured below, was kicked into the canal and was left freezing in the water for 20 minutes as the thugs taunted him on September 13.

But it emerged today that the 71-year-old was the victim in one of nine attacks on people using the route, with one man suffering a shattered kneecap when he was shoved in the water.

Pc Joe Trusselle and Pc Gavin Plumridge have arrested three youths after making inquiries with local schools in the city.

PC Trusselle said: "These attacks have quite understandably shocked and disgusted the local community.

"Never in all my time in the police have I seen such brazen acts of malice on completely innocent members of the public, for seemingly no other reason than getting a sickening personal kick.

"I hope these arrests will reassure people that action is being taken, that we're confident of putting a stop to the assaults.

"High-visibility patrols will remain in place across the city's towpaths until we are entirely confident we have caught the offenders."

The spate of offences began on September 12, when a 40-year-old cyclist was pushed into the canal near Gorsebrook Road in Whitmore Reans.

The group struck again just an hour later, this time pushing a 51-year-old man off his bike and into the water. He suffered a shattered kneecap.

On September 13 the group attacked four more people – aged 72, 33, 61 and Mr Fitzgerald. They suffered a range of injuries from cuts on the leg, to cracked ribs.

A 15-year-old boy and two 14-year-old boys, arrested on suspicion of assault have been released on police bail.

Towpath thugs leave a trail of injuries

* September 12: 40-year-old cyclist shoved in the shoulder and fell into the canal.

* September 12: An hour later the gang pushed a 51-year-old off his bike and into the water. He suffered a shattered knee cap.

* September 13: A 72-year-old man suffered a nasty cut to his leg when he was pushed into the water.

* September 13: Christopher Fitzgerald was left with two cracked ribs after he was kicked off his bike and into the water.

* September 13: A 33-year-old man was targeted but was not pushed in the water. He was racially abused.

* September 13: A 61-year-old man was pushed into the canal.

* September 14: The gang tareted a 49-year-old man was attacked and pushed in the water.

* September 19: A 62-year-old man had his glasses stolen and thrown in the canal.

* September 19: A short time later, the gang targeted a 72-year-old man.