Attacked on my way home.

[j1979]

2 Nights ago i was walking home from work in Sheffield, on broomhall street close to devonshire green at the back of the west one complex. It was a very windy night and the time was about 00:20, i was walking at a fast pace as i usually do with my hood up and wooly hat on to protect myself from the wind and cold.

I was not too far from my destination and heard footsteps running up behind me. I turned around half expecting to see maybe a friend plying some sick joke. Instead i saw 2 men dressed head to toe in black, with home made balaclavas (just black material with eye holes cut out). One of the guys had a knife a the other what looked like a white club. To be honest I didn't see the guy with the club to well as he stayed behind me while the other guy covered my escape route.

Surrounded and quite clearly in fear for my life. I took out of my pocket the only makeshift weapon I had, my keys, not much but better than nothing i thought. The guy with the knife covering my exit came closer and I prepared my self for at the very least a beating, knowing even if i could stop this guy the guy behind me would knock me out. The guy with the knife came closer yet and the light come onto his eyes. I could see he was a black male about my height but bigger build. I don't kow why but i spoke to him and said "what the are you doing" and followed by "I recognise you, you're the guy from yesterday" for some reason this seemed to deter him and he froze. A stand off ensued and i managed to slowly edge in a direction that had them both in my eyeline. and no longer covering the exit. I then made my getaway and they seemed not to pursue. As soon as i was safe and behind closed doors i called the police 2 cops were at my address within 10 mins and within 15 mins this part of Sheffield was crawling with police (6 squad cars) with tasers.

As i mentioned the "I recognise you, you're the guy from yesterday" statement that may well have saved my bacon. This related to the day before, where there were a bunch of Somali kids 16 -21 that always enter our flats and start fires and smash things up. Well the day before I confronted them after they smashed a firedoor in the building, and i told them i called the police.

I guess im going to carry more protection in future. I would rather serve time at HM's pleasure then get stabbed.

[tiggerai]

Blimey dude, so glad you're ok.

Good response from the police there too.

And by protection - I hope you mean pepper spray!!

[j1979]

Blimey dude, so glad you're ok.

Good response from the police there too.

And by protection - I hope you mean pepper spray!!

Yep pepper spray was my intention. However pepper spray is still 5 year min sentence if caught carrying it AFAIK. Maybe someone with can advise me here. It's classed as a firearm i think

I was looking at this. On sale in the uk but no idea if its legal.

http://www.rap4uk.com/HotShot-Self-D...Kit-p/9869.htm

[vicar]

Glad you came to no harm and are safe.

[petercook7]

2 Nights ago i was walking home from work in Sheffield, on broomhall street close to devonshire green at the back of the west one complex. It was a very windy night and the time was about 00:20, i was walking at a fast pace as i usually do with my hood up and wooly hat on to protect myself from the wind and cold.

I was not too far from my destination and heard footsteps running up behind me. I turned around half expecting to see maybe a friend plying some sick joke. Instead i saw 2 men dressed head to toe in black, with home made balaclavas (just black material with eye holes cut out). One of the guys had a knife a the other what looked like a white club. To be honest I didn't see the guy with the club to well as he stayed behind me while the other guy covered my escape route.

Surrounded and quite clearly in fear for my life. I took out of my pocket the only makeshift weapon I had, my keys, not much but better than nothing i thought. The guy with the knife covering my exit came closer and I prepared my self for at the very least a beating, knowing even if i could stop this guy the guy behind me would knock me out. The guy with the knife came closer yet and the light come onto his eyes. I could see he was a black male about my height but bigger build. I don't kow why but i spoke to him and said "what the are you doing" and followed by "I recognise you, you're the guy from yesterday" for some reason this seemed to deter him and he froze. A stand off ensued and i managed to slowly edge in a direction that had them both in my eyeline. and no longer covering the exit. I then made my getaway and they seemed not to pursue. As soon as i was safe and behind closed doors i called the police 2 cops were at my address within 10 mins and within 15 mins this part of Sheffield was crawling with police (6 squad cars) with tasers.

As i mentioned the "I recognise you, you're the guy from yesterday" statement that may well have saved my bacon. This related to the day before, where there were a bunch of Somali kids 16 -21 that always enter our flats and start fires and smash things up. Well the day before I confronted them after they smashed a firedoor in the building, and i told them i called the police.

I guess im going to carry more protection in future. I would rather serve time at HM's pleasure then get stabbed.

Somali i dont know one that i would trust, they are all thieves. They used to walk in groups causing trouble, but when they were alone or in twos they would not. ive seen a few get a good kicking.

[TheAnimus]

I would really urge caution in the tooling up arms race, its not a good option unless your able to go to the extreme option quickly.

You've got a knife? The professional mugger has one too, and maybe his mate?

You've got pepper spray, the amount of people who use this in to the wind (trained police included) is, well tbh entertaining if it were not for the circumstances.

My point is these options require pratice and training, its why firearms are such a 'leveller', as a small hand gun requires a lot less than a knife in terms of knowledge and understanding, and why so many yanks feel the gun prohibition is a bad idea.

I disagree with any form of an arms race, I haven't seen edividence they make it better on average on a large scale.

I would instead suggest talking to your police about a neighbourhood watch scheme, and if you want to feel safer taking up a self defense class.

[Phage]

Yep pepper spray was my intention. However pepper spray is still 5 year min sentence if caught carrying it AFAIK. Maybe someone with can advise me here. It's classed as a firearm i think

I was looking at this. On sale in the uk but no idea if its legal.

http://www.rap4uk.com/HotShot-Self-D...Kit-p/9869.htm

Def NOT legal.

http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/about-u...r/pepper-spray

But you can make them very smelly and flourescent.

http://www.vestguard.co.uk/bouncer-s...ncer-spray.htm

[aidanjt]

Def NOT legal.

http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/about-u...r/pepper-spray

But you can make them very smelly and flourescent.

http://www.vestguard.co.uk/bouncer-s...ncer-spray.htm

Just another way government bureaucrats monopolises defence and leaves law abiding victims at the mercy of criminals.

[razer121]

Damn mate that seems like a horrible situation to be in, I've been jumped but not by nifepoint, I guess saying that really did save your ass, maybe a ploy i may use in future Either way glad your alright chap.

[aidanjt]

Either way glad your alright chap.

Likewise. I'd hate to be caught in a nerve racking situation like that.

[Repressor]

Walking back through Broomhall

The best way you can avoid this in future is probably buying a second hand pushbike and racing home. No point in buying self-defence stuff, because if you stand up to them, you'll probably get stabbed or clubbed.

[Biscuit]

Im quite impressed with the assertiveness you showed to defuse the situation. Good man! Glad you are ok and i hope nothing like this happens again.

[TheAnimus]

Somali i dont know one that i would trust, they are all thieves. They used to walk in groups causing trouble

Seriously I make all sorts of comments in jest, but's just down right racist!

I don't know if that underlines a chronic lack of intelligence on your part, or just a horrible side effect of ghettoisation with asylum seakers.

Its very true that a larger proportion of crime is committed by immigrants than non-immigrants but that is because a greater proportion of them are far poorer and as such one could speculate have less in life to lose.

[badass]

Seriously I make all sorts of comments in jest, but's just down right racist!

I don't know if that underlines a chronic lack of intelligence on your part, or just a horrible side effect of ghettoisation with asylum seakers.

Its very true that a larger proportion of crime is committed by immigrants than non-immigrants but that is because a greater proportion of them are far poorer and as such one could speculate have less in life to lose.

You really are a bellend.

I was going to say exactly the same things.

[petercook7]

Seriously I make all sorts of comments in jest, but's just down right racist!

I don't know if that underlines a chronic lack of intelligence on your part, or just a horrible side effect of ghettoisation with asylum seakers.

Its very true that a larger proportion of crime is committed by immigrants than non-immigrants but that is because a greater proportion of them are far poorer and as such one could speculate have less in life to lose.

You really are a bellend.

I did'nt say all immigrants did I, did i say all black people NO. I say that you can not trust them, then again you most likely do not live in London to witness it. If you think iam racist then you should really listen to a group of them, you have no idea.

[Zhaoman]

Thanks for sharing your story. It sounds like a horrific ordeal and I'm glad you weren't hurt but my goodness that sounds scary. Did the police offer any advice to you at all and is this sort of thing common in that area?

I was once walking down a side-street in Dublin and two men came up and grabbed me (tracksuit bottoms and all) and asked for money. I didn't think as fast as you but I kind of shouted back at him "What the **** are you doing? Get your hands off me!" and after a few rounds of arguing back and forth they let me go and walked away. Straight after that incident I remember feeling so stupid and thinking what if they had a knife. The whole thing happened so fast I just didn't know what to do or think. It's funny because I actually had some money in my wallet at the time but I think the fact that I didn't appear intimidated maybe discouraged them but it was a very scary experience.