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Council leader at sharp end of crime

Ken Bennett
2/ 4/2008

THE leader of Oldham Council found himself at the sharp end of crime – when he was held at knifepoint by a masked yob who tried to steal his car.

The drama unfolded when Cllr David Jones was returning to his Toyota near a post office in Butler Green, Chadderton.

The 60-year-old father-of-two was approached from behind by a masked man who pulled a knife and demanded: "Give me your keys."

The thug, believed to have been in his late twenties, wore a balaclava and an old coat.

Speaking about his ordeal, Cllr Jones (pictured) said: "I shouted to the man ‘Push off’ and he ran away. I scrambled into my car and was trying to lock the doors before driving off.

"But he suddenly came back to the car, opened the door and pressed a blade against my cheek. At first, I thought it was a screwdriver – then I realised it was a knife.

"He took the keys and just ran off. I was badly shaken up, but apart from that I’m okay.

"Even though the area was busy, there was no one in the car park when the incident happened. It is really unusual for an attack like this to happen in broad daylight and in such a public place."

After he made a call to emergency services, police were quickly on the scene.

Cllr Jones, who lives in Chadderton, added: "I didn’t realise the knife had marked me in any way until an officer said there was blood on my cheek.

"But it was only a pinprick.

"I was in a blind panic to be honest and didn’t really notice much. I think the thief must have known that I wasn’t going to give up my car.

"He seemed very agitated and I was just pleased to see him run off."

The councillor said the incident will not prevent him from carrying out his normal routine.

"I’m not going to let it put me off doing anything because I know it was something exceptionally rare,"he said.

Fortunately, a spare set of car keys has helped him fulfill that pledge to himself and the people of the borough.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact police on 0161 872 5050 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.