From the M.E.N,
Council leader hurt in carjacking
Exclusive Neal Keeling
13/ 1/2009
THE leader of Manchester council has been attacked in a vicious car-jacking. Sir Richard Leese was injured as he tried to stop two men from stealing his car.
The thugs pounced after Sir Richard had pulled his Mini Cooper over to the side of the road in Burnage, Manchester, to get something from the boot.
They demanded the keys, there was a struggle and Sir Richard was punched and suffered a black eye. The men wrestled the keys from him and sped off in the car which was recovered in Moston, near Blackley.
Sir Richard is a Manchester City fan and the car is a distinctive light blue with a white roof.
It is believed the thugs followed his car in a black car for some distance before robbing him.
He was taken to hospital as a precaution and received treatment for his injuries.
Sir Richard said: "It was a very unpleasant experience which left me very shaken and with minor injuries. I hope that the perpetrators are caught so that no one else becomes a victim."
It is understood Sir Richard was travelling back to Manchester after visiting his brother in St Albans, Herts.
The two attackers are black, well built, around 5ft 11in to 6ft, in their late teens to early 20s and wearing dark sports clothing.
Det Con Andrew Langlands said: "This was a nasty and unprovoked attack on a man simply going about his day."
Carjacking has become a major problem throughout Greater Manchester as the security of vehicles has been improved by manufacturers. It means the only way of stealing a car is to get the keys.
Last month a woman was attacked by baseball-bat wielding thugs in a terrifying carjack in Didsbury.
The victim, Julia Dickinson, 42, a British Airways' stewardess, had parked her £20,000 Land Rover Discovery when three men struck.
Council leader hurt in carjacking
Exclusive Neal Keeling
13/ 1/2009
THE leader of Manchester council has been attacked in a vicious car-jacking. Sir Richard Leese was injured as he tried to stop two men from stealing his car.
The thugs pounced after Sir Richard had pulled his Mini Cooper over to the side of the road in Burnage, Manchester, to get something from the boot.
They demanded the keys, there was a struggle and Sir Richard was punched and suffered a black eye. The men wrestled the keys from him and sped off in the car which was recovered in Moston, near Blackley.
Sir Richard is a Manchester City fan and the car is a distinctive light blue with a white roof.
It is believed the thugs followed his car in a black car for some distance before robbing him.
He was taken to hospital as a precaution and received treatment for his injuries.
Sir Richard said: "It was a very unpleasant experience which left me very shaken and with minor injuries. I hope that the perpetrators are caught so that no one else becomes a victim."
It is understood Sir Richard was travelling back to Manchester after visiting his brother in St Albans, Herts.
The two attackers are black, well built, around 5ft 11in to 6ft, in their late teens to early 20s and wearing dark sports clothing.
Det Con Andrew Langlands said: "This was a nasty and unprovoked attack on a man simply going about his day."
Carjacking has become a major problem throughout Greater Manchester as the security of vehicles has been improved by manufacturers. It means the only way of stealing a car is to get the keys.
Last month a woman was attacked by baseball-bat wielding thugs in a terrifying carjack in Didsbury.
The victim, Julia Dickinson, 42, a British Airways' stewardess, had parked her £20,000 Land Rover Discovery when three men struck.