A couple fear a group of 'organised' lurking thugs are operating near Manchester's Gay Village after they were 'followed' and mugged following a night out on Canal Street.
Peter Snowdon, 41 and Wesley Fellows, 47, who have been together for over 20 years, had ventured out for a night out in Manchester's Gay Village - a place where they have 'always felt safe' - with a group of friends on Saturday night (November 2).
The couple of interior designers, who live in Shropshire, first claim to have noticed a group of four men lingering around the bridge on Auburn Street, at the end of Canal Street, at around 12.30am on Sunday morning. READ MORE New photos of missing man released as police believe he 'walked into woodland' It was a number of hours later, as they attempted to walk back to their hotel, Dakota on Ducie Street, that the couple spotted the men again.
Minutes later, they heard footsteps running up behind them before they were suddenly attacked and robbed. Wes, who was wearing a £15,000 Rolex watch, was 'thrown to the floor' and had his shirt ripped and shoes removed in the sporadic attack, before the thugs swiftly made off with the designer watch.