BY ERIC KING
A man has had his hand chopped off by a gang of knife-wielding masked men in a brutal high street attack.
The assault happened in High Road, Loughton after the young victim in his 20’s was confronted by a masked group at around 11.30pm last Friday night. He is currently recovering in hospital but is believed to have suffered ‘life-changing injuries’ including having his hand severed. He reportedly had four stab marks in his back and was covered in so much blood.
The man was on a night out with a group of friends when he was surrounded by the gang of ‘three or four men’ who subsequently escaped in a black Audi A8. A large knife was later recovered from the scene and police arrested one of the suspects after a ten minute foot chase after the attack. The attacker was clearly not quick enough to escape.
The arrested assailant is a 30-year-old man from Grays, and is being questioned on suspicion of attempted murder.
The Audi was found set on fire the next day near Horseshoe Close, Waltham Abbey in the early hours of Saturday morning. A reveller at a nearby bar told eye of media ” you can be sure that this was not a random attack. The men were masked and clearly knew he was going to be out here tonight. When masked men descend on a man and stab him like that you know it is something to do with drugs, financial debt, or some offence against the attackers”, he said. However, that’s all speculation and no definitive cause for the attack has been given, though the attackers clearly had something against this guy. 30 year old labourer, Paul Saunders has been charged for the attack.
Essex Police said: “Paul Saunders, 30, a labourer of Biggin Lane, Grays, was arrested on Friday night.
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“He has been remanded in police custody until his court appearance at Chelmsford Magistrates Court today (Monday, November 9).
“Two other men were also arrested over the weekend in connection with the incident. They have been released on police bail pending further enquiries until February 14, 2016. They are 19 and 21-years-old and both from Grays.”
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