EXCLUSIVE
A 24-YEAR-old man was "stable" in hospital last night after being stabbed in the back late on Sunday night - a grim wake-up call that knife culture could be creeping into Macclesfield.
Three days earlier - and just nine days after a nationwide amnesty on blades - a man was arrested brandishing a 10in bread knife in a town centre disturbance.
But the assailant who plunged a 6in "steak-type" knife into the lower back of his victim in the more recent of the two crimes on the Moss Estate is still at large - and the weapon has not been recovered.
Police chief Gary Simpson, who urged the public not to panic over the two separate incidents, said: "The man survived more through sheer luck than judgement as the blade missed vital internal organs. When you plunge a knife into a person it is impossible to predict what damage it will do."
The unnamed victim was rushed to Macclesfield Hospital in a critical condition after the stabbing at 10.56pm on Sunday (June 4) on Belgrave Road.
Earlier this week his condition improved and last night he was described as "stable". He underwent scans yesterday (June 6) and officers are waiting on the results.
Detectives who are quizzing the man as he recovers are keeping a bedside vigil. They believe they know the identity of the attacker who is thought to be aged 22.
Inspector Simpson, Head of Macclesfield's Neighbourhood Policing Unit, said: "We have not caught up with him yet but we are actively looking for a local male.
"We believe he is somebody who has recently moved back to the area and as soon as we track him down, we will lock him up.
"But I want to make clear that this was an isolated incident between two people, who we believe know each other."
"If any member of the public thinks they have come across the attacker, they should pick up the phone rather than approach him to be on the safe side.
"But as I say, this is an isolated incident, we do not believe he poses a serious risk to the public - but we will arrest him as soon as possible."
Details are still sketchy with officers reluctant to give too much away before the knifeman is caught.
Three days earlier police turned out at 2.28am to a disturbance on Waters Green in the town centre in which three people were arrested - one a man armed with a knife. There was a brawl but no-one was hurt.
A local man has been charged with possession of a knife and public order offences and police assault. A man and a woman have also been charged with various offences and they will appear in court at a later date.
Inspector Simpson said "It was extremely rare to have two knife-related incidents in Macclesfield in such a short time."
He said the penalty for possession could be up to four years imprisonment.
Macclesfield MP Sir Nick said: "Do I think we have a serious problem with knives in Macclesfield? No. It is certainly the case in large cities, but there has been a habit of carrying knives for what is convienently described as self-defence.
"But do I believe that it could become a more serious problem in the town? It's possible. For where the cities go, rural areas do follow, unless the authorities, not least the police, do everything in their power to show they mean business in the fight against all types of crime.
"If people can faith in the courts, the authorities and the police they will not be tempted to carry knives for their own protection.
"I fully support the knife amnesty and feel that anyone carrying a knife over a prescribed length, which is not a pen-knife or part of national dress which has a historical or traditional context, should feel the full force of the law."
- IF you have any information about this crime, contact Cheshire Police on 0845 4580000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
