Police step up hunt for thugs who threatened to stab Northampton dad while his five-year-old little girl watched

Detectives today issued a CCTV image of a man they want to speak to after a shocking knife attack on a dad in Northampton.

They believe the man caught on camera may have vital information about the identity of three thugs who threatened to stab the parent while his partner and five-year-old daughter were watching.

Detectives launched an investigation into the violent assault in Barrack Road at lunchtime last Monday (September 21) in which the victim was also punched and kicked.

A Northamptonshire Police spokesman said: "The man was walking along Barrack Road with his partner and young child between 12.45pm and 1pm on Monday when he got involved in an altercation with three males after they had said something to his partner.

"The offenders then punched and kicked the man, before demanding he give them his phone, and threatening to stab him. They showed him what looked like the handle of a knife."

Police investigating the incident today issued a photo of a man they believe may hold key information about the attack and are appealing for him or anyone who may recognise him, to get in touch by calling 101 using reference number 20000496509.

We revealed last week how the father was picking his little girl up from school with his partner after teachers phoned home to say she felt unwell.

The dad said: "One punched me in my face and another lifted his t-shirt to show me he had a blade. I was then threatened to be stabbed in the doorway of a shop as I was shouting for them to ring the police.

"No-one came to help as both my partner and five-year-old daughter were screaming and crying for help. My daughter was hysterically screaming 'my daddy'. My partner was trying to defend her against the youths.

"It was just so frightening, we were just a young family walking home from school. My daughter still had her school uniform on."

The police spokesman said: "The first offender is described as a black man, about 20 years old, 6ft and of a skinny build. He had beaded afro hair, which was split in rows pulled to the back of his head and was wearing a grey tracksuit with a hoody and black trainers. He had a rucksack on his shoulder.

"The second man was a black man, in his 20s, with a scruffy beard, less than 6ft and of a stocky build. He was wearing other than a hoodie.

"The third man was a white man, younger than the other two, about 19-20, with fair hair. He had a blue mountain bike and was wearing trainers, grey tracksuit bottoms and a dark coloured short sleeve t-shirt."