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| Wolverhampton man slashed across face with carpet knife | Wolverhampton man slashed across face with carpet knife |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A man "scarred for life" after being slashed across the face with a carpet knife has been speaking of his ordeal. | A man "scarred for life" after being slashed across the face with a carpet knife has been speaking of his ordeal. |
| Gareth Howles, 23, was walking in a Wolverhampton park when he was approached by a robber who attacked him when he refused to hand over his phone. | Gareth Howles, 23, was walking in a Wolverhampton park when he was approached by a robber who attacked him when he refused to hand over his phone. |
| He was left with multiple knife wounds to his face, including one that stretches across the bridge of his nose, narrowly missing his eyes. | He was left with multiple knife wounds to his face, including one that stretches across the bridge of his nose, narrowly missing his eyes. |
| The masked man seized earphones worth just a couple of pounds. | The masked man seized earphones worth just a couple of pounds. |
| "It was only when I made my way out of the park and turned round to see a trail of blood did I realise I'd been cut," said Mr Howles, a youth worker. | "It was only when I made my way out of the park and turned round to see a trail of blood did I realise I'd been cut," said Mr Howles, a youth worker. |
| 'Looking for victims' | |
| He added that it happened very quickly, and "adrenaline took over". | |
| "I've been told I'll be scarred for life but I'm just grateful I still have my sight as the knife came very close to my right eye." | "I've been told I'll be scarred for life but I'm just grateful I still have my sight as the knife came very close to my right eye." |
| The attacker, who has not been caught, was described by police as a mixed-race male who was wearing black clothing and a ski mask. | The attacker, who has not been caught, was described by police as a mixed-race male who was wearing black clothing and a ski mask. |
| Mr Howles said: "It was an ordinary morning. I was walking through the park to take my disabled granddad on a shopping trip when a guy ran out of the bushes and squared up to me. | Mr Howles said: "It was an ordinary morning. I was walking through the park to take my disabled granddad on a shopping trip when a guy ran out of the bushes and squared up to me. |
| "This man needs locking up. If anyone has suspicions about who might be responsible then please call the police so we can get this man off the streets." | "This man needs locking up. If anyone has suspicions about who might be responsible then please call the police so we can get this man off the streets." |
| It happened at 09:40 BST on 14 April as Mr Howles was in Fowler's Park near the entrance from Nine Elms Lane. | It happened at 09:40 BST on 14 April as Mr Howles was in Fowler's Park near the entrance from Nine Elms Lane. |
| Sgt Steve Perry, from West Midlands Police, said: "[The robber] emerged from bushes near the skate park; it could be that he'd been in the area for some time looking for potential victims." | Sgt Steve Perry, from West Midlands Police, said: "[The robber] emerged from bushes near the skate park; it could be that he'd been in the area for some time looking for potential victims." |