If you know this thug, give him up!

THE moment when student nurse hard-working Awais Qadeer was almost killed in a shocking attack

Detective appeals to family of raider who could have killed

A hard-working student nurse was left for dead for the sake of £40 of chocolates and sweets in a robbery at a Failsworth petrol station.

His skull and cheekbone were fractured when he was hit with such force that it could have killed him, said police.

Now officers are asking hardened criminals in Oldham for information about the rookie robbers they believe were responsible for the cowardly attack on Awais Qadeer.

Det Insp Chris Bridge, of Oldham CID, made his appeal at the Texaco garage in Oldham Road, Failsworth, near the Manchester border and opposite the Bull’s Head pub.

He said: “This was an extreme level of violence with what appears to be a metal pole.

“I believe, and my colleagues agree, that these were rookie robbers, someone who had not had experience of carrying out this type of attack.

“We believe they have originated in Oldham, they are potentially from Oldham.

“I’m appealing to their friends and families — look at how seriously this man was injured and contact the police.

“The victim was a hard-working man who came to this country on a student nurse visa, working nights to make some money.

“It was all over in seconds, there was no shouting or warning. This was a cowardly attack. We also know there were people who were actually in the petrol station — on the forecourt, in the shop, filling up with petrol — who did not give the police a statement. Please get in touch.”

Mr Qadeer is recovering at home but said to be extremely traumatised by the attack.

It happened on Friday, September 4, at 7 20 pm, as a delivery van arrived. Two staff were in the kiosk, and police believe the robbers wanted cash and cigarettes in the van but ended up with sweets.

CCTV footage shows Mr Qadeer (30) being felled by a masked robber with a metal pole, and another robber is seen.

A third man is believed to have driven them away in a dark coloured Honda Accord car, heading up Oldham Road.

The robber who struck the blow was about 6ft tall, slim, with a dark balaclava with a brim, a two tone, 3/4-length jacket in light grey and blue, with piping on the upper arm and back, and dark coloured track suit bottoms with an emblem.

Anyone with information should call police on 856 8951 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555 111.

A 24-year-old man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder has been bailed by police until October 21.