Driver subjected to horrific ordeal

Police appealing for witnesses after thousands of new laptops were stolen and a driver assaulted before he was dumped at a dirt track in Saddleworth on Thursday morning.

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POLICE are appealing for witnesses after thousands of new laptops were stolen and a driver was assaulted and then dumped at a dirt track in Saddleworth on Thursday.

The terrifying ordeal occurred between 4am and 5am on January 5, when a dark-coloured Audi hatchback approached a grey HGV with a blue cab which was parked up on Shorten Brook Drive in Altham, where it had been overnight.

Four men got out of the car, the cab window was smashed and the driver was hit on the head.

Between 5am and 6.30am, he was driven in the truck to Underbank Way on the Link 665 Business Park in Haslingden.

Transfer

The contents of the truck, around 2,000 boxed Medion Erazer P Series and X Series model gaming laptops, were transferred into a DAF CF class 2 truck, with a reflective stripe down the side of the cab and curtains.

The vehicle made off in an unknown direction.

The cab of the HGV was set alight and the victim was dropped on a track near to junction 22 of the M62 at around 7am.

DS Melissa Kelly, of East Lancashire CID, said: "The lorry driver was subjected to an extremely terrifying ordeal. Fortunately he sustained relatively minor injuries and is recovering.

"We believe that there were at least six men involved. They were moving the goods at Link 665 Business Park for around one hour, so someone must have seen something.

"If you have been offered a laptop for sale or have any information at all, please make contact.

"I would also ask people to review any dashcam footage that might have captured the offenders."

Three of the men are described as black, between 30 to 40 years old. A fourth man is described as being of Middle Eastern appearance, with stubble.

Call 101 quoting incident reference number 149 of January 5.