Plea to catch son's attackers

Josh Donoghue, 18, was attacked in Poolstock in the early hours of Saturday morning as he walked home from a night in Wigan town centre with friends.

He was approached by two men who pushed him into a patch of nettles and stamped on his head before taking his mobile phone, wallet, bank card and driving licence.

His mum Susan, from Bryn, is now making a desperate appeal for witnesses to help catch the robbers as there was no CCTV overlooking the spot near Helmsman Way

She also spoke of the serious effect the incident has had on her son, who was badly shaken up by the attack.

She said: “I am asking for anybody who was around at that time to come forward.

“My son is OK but was deeply shocked and upset by what happened and very scared. It has affected him badly as he now says he will never go to Wigan again.

“This sort of crime is wrong and people who commit things like this need to be caught and given a punishment.”

Susan said Wigan and Leigh College student Josh went into Wigan on Friday June 3 but ended up alone as his friend was drunk and had to be put in a taxi.

He started walking home and decided it would be quicker to take a short cut along the canal towpath but was attacked as he walked shortly after 4.30am.

Josh managed to flag down a truck driver who took him to Wigan police station to report what had happened.

Officers then went to the scene at the Leeds and Liverpool Canal but the offenders had fled by the time they arrived. A search for CCTV cameras covering the spot where the robbery happened also proved in vain.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said no arrests have been made so far but enquiries are ongoing.

Anyone with information about this incident should ring police on the non-emergency number 101 or call independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.