Disabled man attacked in Manchester’s Gay Village
A 26-year-old man with cerebral palsy says he is now too scared to leave his home after he was attacked in the city’s famous LGBT district.
Richard Challinor had gone for a drink at a Canal Street bar and was waiting for a taxi when two men mugged him during the early hours of Wednesday 5 September.
Both offenders were described as black and in their early 30s.
One was stocky, around 5ft8 and wore a grey beanie with blue writing on it. The other was 6ft, slim and wearing a dark coloured jacket with a hood.
Mr Challinor told the Manchester Evening News “I was scared. All sorts of things were going through my head. But I couldn’t run away because of my limp.
“I never saw my disability as a problem before. Now I feel more vulnerable. It’s knocked my confidence,” he added “I’m worried about going out now.”
Mr Challinor was forced to hand over his money, bank cards, mobile and flat keys.
He had to pay £90 for a locksmith to let him back into his flat.
PC Sam Smith, of Greater Manchester Police, said: “These offenders targetted a lone man on his own, possibly as a result of seeing he was clearly vulnerable due to his condition.”
“I now want to hear from anyone who might recall seeing these two men hanging around Sackville Gardens suspiciously and running away after the offence.”
