A MANCHESTER BUSINESS MAN WHO WAS STABBED IN THE H

A MANCHESTER BUSINESS MAN WHO WAS STABBED IN THE HAND WHEN HE
STRUGGLED WITH A YOUNG MUGGER IN THE STREETS OF ELEPHANT AND CASTLE
WAS ONE OF FOUR OF HIS VICTIMS THAT NIGHT.

MICHAEL RUDOLPH COWAN, 18, OF THE OVAL, KENNINGTON, AND HIS
FRIEND, ANTHONY ALLEYNE, 19, OF BATH TERRACE, ROCKINGHAM ESTATE,
SOUTHWARK HELD FOUR PEOPLE AT KNIFEPOINT AND ROBBED THEM.

LAST MONTH, AN OLD BAILEY JURY FOUND COWAN GUILTY ON ROBBERY
CHARGES.

HE WAS SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS YOUTH CUSTODY TODAY.

(FRIDAY)

ALLEYNE, WHO HAD PLEADED GUILTY TO THE CHARGES, HAD RECEIVED
THE SAME SENTENCE LAST MONTH.

JUDGE KENNETH MACHIN, QC, SAID:’ROBBERY AT KNIFEPOINT MUST BE
SEVERELY DEALT WITH BY THE COURTS.

‘
COWAN AND ALLEYNE HAD BEEN ARRESTED AFTER AN ORGANISED POLICE
OPERATION FOLLOWING A SPATE OF ROBBERIES IN THE ELEPHANT AND CASTLE
AREA EARLY THIS YEAR.

BRITISH TELECOM SENIOR MANAGERS, ERIC WOODHOUSE, 53, OF ELM
CLOSE, POYNTON, CHESHIRE, AND JAMES BOYDELL, 44, OF WINCHESTER DRIVE,
STOCKPORT, WERE IN LONDON FOR A BUSINESS ONFERENCE ON FEBRUARY 11 THIS
YEAR.

WHILE WALKING BACK TO THEIR HOTEL NEAR THE ELEPHANT AND CASTLE
ROUNDABOUT AFTER DINNER, THEY WERE ATTACKED FROM BEHIND.

BOTH MEN WERE GRABBED BY THE THROAT AND HELD AT KNIFEPOINT.

THE JUDGE SAID: ‘MR.

WOODHOUSE FOUGHT BRAVELY TO PROTECT
HIMSELF.

HIS HAND WAS SLASHED AND HE RECEIVED 19 STITCHES.

‘
THE YOUTHS RAN OFF WITH THE MEN’S WALLETS AND ABOUT #20 CASH.

JUST HALF AN HOUR BEFORE AND ONLY A FEW HUNDERED YARDS AWAY,
THE YOUTHS HAD ATTACKED TWO CIVIL SERVANTS.

ANDREW BRENT OF LALHAM, MIDDLESEX, AND KAY MATTHEWS, 21, OF
ERITH KENT, WERE ALSO GRABBED FROM BEHIND.

MRS.

MATTHEWS WAS THROWN TO THE GOUND AND THREATENED, A KNIFE
HELD AT HER THROAT.

AGAIN, THE THREE MEN GRABBED THEIR CASH AND RAN.

TWO OF THE YOUTHS WERE ARRESTED WITHIN MINUTES.

THE THIRD
YOUTH WAS NEVER CAUGHT.

ENDS