Knife-wielding dog-nappers attacking dog walkers in Sheffield

Tom Cartwright, aged 21, and his two-year-old Staffy-labrador cross Bailey were approached by the gang of youths on Constable Road in Norton.

Mr Cartwright, of Constable Road, who has suffered from PTSD since childhood and is on long-term sick leave, managed to punch and subdue one of his attackers whilst Bailey chased off the other three.

He said: “I just went into shock, it was a matter of life or death.

“Bailey reacted defensively when I got him off the lead. He’s got a couple of marks

on him as the lad nicked him with the knife. He's traumatised and he's sleeping a lot.

“I don't feel very safe at all. I've completely changed my walking path, I don't go down that area anymore.”

The gang was described as mixed race and aged between 17 and 19, with one left with cuts on his face from the ordeal. Mr Cartwright’s fiancé Piper Rodgers, 18, claims the youths are still at large. She said: “They're still out there doing it.

“I got a message from a woman saying a group had jumped her 16-year-old son the night after and the description is pretty much the same, even to the marks one of them had from Tom stopping him.

“The police didn't look very bothered about what had happened. I mean if he hadn't dodged that knife we could've been going to identify a body!”

The Stolen and Missing Pets Alliance says that more than 60 dogs are snatched from their owners every week.

Debbie Matthews, CEO of SAMPA, said: “No one is exempt from this vile crime.

“Dogs are stolen from gardens, houses, parks, kennels, outside shops and cars.

Nowhere is safe. Don’t leave your dog outside a shop or supermarket. Don’t let your dog out of sight during exercise. Don’t leave a dog unattended in a vehicle.”

South Yorkshire Police are investigating the incident but are unsure of the identity of the males. Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting incident number 672 of February 13, 2020.