Littlehampton man stabbed for his phone and £1 in small change

THE victim of a vicious attack has told how he was punched, kicked and stabbed as he made his way down a Littlehampton footpath popular with dog walkers.
By The Newsroom
Published 14th Feb 2015, 17:00 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 08:15 BST
Chris Mitchell, 21, recovering from the robbery PHOTO: Derek MartinChris Mitchell, 21, recovering from the robbery PHOTO: Derek Martin
Chris Mitchell, 21, recovering from the robbery PHOTO: Derek Martin

Chris Mitchell, 21, endured the terrifying experience on the ‘dog walk’ running south from the A259 Worthing Road, past Cornfield School towards The Littlehampton Academy, between 7pm and 7.45pm on Thursday (February 5).

The two hooded robbers approached him just a short distance from the beginning of the path as Chris walked from his parents’ home at Toddington Lane, towards his flat in the town centre.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“They asked if I had a lighter, and when I reached into my pocket to get it out, one of them punched me in the mouth. I fell to the ground and they were kicking and punching me. I tried to get up, but was struck on the side of the face.

“They went through my pockets and took my iPhone 5C and £1 in change, all I had.

“While I was on the ground, struggling to fight them off, one of them stabbed me in my left arm. Then they ran off towards Worthing Road.

“It was pitch black and I didn’t see what I was stabbed with, but the doctor at Worthing Hospital later reckoned it was a knife – it had gone through the sleeve of my padded jacket and a hoodie, too.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Chris was treated at the hospital for the stab wound, which needed stitches, and for internal bruising and grazes to his forehead.

“I’m still a bit shaken up but trying not to let it affect my confidence,” he said.

Both robbers were white and had eastern European accents. One, 5ft 8ins tall, stocky and clean shaven, was wearing a grey, unbranded tracksuit with the hood up. He had gold rings on his fingers. The second, about 6ft, was in his 20s, of medium build, wearing a red top with the hood up and a dark scarf across his lower face. He was also wearing black jeans.

Chris, who works for his parents’ business Sussex Mobiles, in Manor Parade, Littlehampton, added: “I want to see them caught – I wouldn’t want anyone else to go through what I did. It could have been a 15-year-old girl walking home from an after-school club.”

Any witnesses to the incident, or who noticed two men acting suspiciously in the area at the time, should email [email protected] or call 101.