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Terrified student knifed in face by vicious attackers

Kelly Livesey
27/ 4/2007

A FORMER Accrington student has spoken of the terrifying moment he was stabbed in the face for a pizza and a few pounds in change.

Ashley Jordan, a former pupil at Moorhead High School, was attacked by two men after popping into a petrol station to buy cigarettes following a night out with friends in Fallowfield, Manchester.

During the attack, which has left him scarred for life, he was slashed across the face with a six-inch knife before being pinned to the ground and stabbed in the chin.

The men, one black and one white, then grabbed a few pounds in loose change from his pockets and ran off with a pizza he had bought from a nearby takeaway.

Since the attack Ashley, who moved to Manchester four years ago from his family home in Church Street, Church, to study mental health nursing at Salford University, has been suffering from panic attacks.

He is too scared to go out at nights or stay at home on his own and has felt unable to return to his city centre job with insurance firm eSure.

Ashley said: "My only thought at the time was that I had to get away from them.

"When I got home there was blood everywhere. I looked in the mirror and my lip was split wide open and there was this big slash down my chin, so I went to hospital and had to have stitches."

Ashley, whose mum Amanda now lives in Pansy Street South, Accrington, had enjoyed a few drinks with friends at a bar in Fallowfield before the attack happened at around 2am on Easter Monday.

He and a friend had visited a nearby takeaway before going their separate ways.

Ashley then decided to get cigarettes from an all-night garage but as he left one of his assailants shouted at him to hand over his phone.

When he replied that he did not have one, he was hit round the head and the attack began.

Ashley says he is putting a brave face on it but has been left very traumatised by the incident and fears he has been scarred for life.

He said: "It's awful. I want to be able to go out like any other 21-year-old but I just can't now.

"I don't know why they did it. I've been scarred for life and all for just for a pizza and few quid."

Detective Constable Tracie Southern, of West Didsbury CID, said: "This was an absolutely terrifying incident for the victim and he has been left understandably traumatised by it. It was a vicious, nasty assault and it is imperative that we catch those responsible as soon as possible.''

Click on the link below for Channel M's video report ...