A TEENAGER was in surgery for two hours after being stabbed in the leg when a gang of youths stole his £200 Gucci cap.
Alexander Henderson was attacked on Monday night while he was with a group of friends on the cycle path on Basselton Lane, Thornaby, Teesside.
The 17-year-old's mother, Rebecca, has spoken of her shock after police called to say Alexander was in hospital being treated for his injury.
The teenager's stab wound
The mother-of-five, from Ingleby Barwick, said: "He was discharged on Tuesday night and it is just really starting to sink in with us all. It was such a shock when the police called and said I needed to go straight to the University Hospital of North Tees as Alexander had been stabbed.
"We didn't know how serious his injury was at first, other than it wasn't life-threatening, but he was still in surgery for two hours. It was quite a deep wound to his leg and there was some complications during the surgery but thankfully, he is going to be ok.
"Alexander is no bother at all – he has just started an apprenticeship at a Mercedes garage – and this attack could really have an impact on his mental wellbeing – the physical wounds will heal but we don't know about the psychological ones yet."
Stolen Gucci cap
The teenager was attacked by another group of around six males at around 8.10pm on Monday evening.
One of the males asked for a cigarette and after a brief discussion between the two groups, one male snatched the victim's cap from his head and the group ran off.
A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: "The victim and his friends followed the group and caught up with them, when the victim grabbed the male who had taken his cap.
"The male had a stick in his hand, and hit the victim on the head with it. The victim was then pushed to the ground and he heard one of the group shout “stab him.”
"When the victim got off the floor he realised he was bleeding and had a wound to his leg. He was taken to the University Hospital of North Tees, where he had surgery and was released from hospital yesterday.
"The suspect is described as a white male, around 17 years old, 6ft 3in tall, of skinny build, wearing a black balaclava, a shiny black Moncler bodywarmer, dark bottoms and was carrying a large stick.
"The stolen cap is described as a Gucci black cap with three green and red stripes on each side. It is worth over £200."
- Anyone with information regarding the incident or the person responsible is asked to contact Detective Inspector Jon Tapper from Stockton Operational Crime Team on the non-emergency number 101, quoting event number 28747.
- Independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org
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