Man stabbed in Leamington

A MAN suffered serious injuries after being stabbed in the neck in Leamington town centre on New Year's Eve.

The 20-year-old was rushed to hospital after being attacked in the Pump Room Garden shortly before 8.50pm on December 31.

He sustained cuts to his neck and was taken by ambulance to the University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire where heunderwent emergency surgery lasting several hours.

The wounds to his neck, believed to have been caused by a bottle, missed an artery by a millimetre.

He remains in hospital where he is described as being in a stable condition.

Police are treating the attack as attempted murder and would like to hear from anyone who saw anything in the Pump Room Gardens near to the bandstand, between 8.30pm and 9pm on the night, or anyone who saw a group of men leaving the scene around that time.

DC Paul Whitehurst said: “It was New Year’s Eve so there would have been people around. The injuries to the man’s neck are extremely severe, and he is very fortunate that the bottle missed a main artery, otherwise this could have been a murder enquiry.

“We appeal for anyone with any information, no matter how small, to come forward.”

Five men were arrested a short time later in Beauchamp Avenue at the top of town. They remain in police custody where they are being questioned in connection with the incident.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact DC Whitehurst on 01926 415000 ext 4296, or they can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 where the information can be given anonymously.