A POLICE Community Support Officer who was viciously attacked by a knifeman while on patrol has spoken publically for the first time about his ordeal.

PCSO Duncan Brown, who was injured following an incident in Runcorn last month, said he was proud to be back on the beat doing the job he loves.

PCSO Brown said: “Even though I was terribly shocked and shaken by what happened, I am proud to serve and be part of this community.

“By no means has this individual deterred me from getting back on the beat doing a job I love.”

The officer, who has worked in the town since September this year, also thanked the member of the public who alerted him to an incident which was taking place in a wooded area between Sparrowhawk Close and Cuncliffe Close in Palacefields.

He went to the scene where he saw three men who appeared to be fighting.

As PCSO Brown approached them he was suddenly attacked from the side and the offender attempted to stab him in the face with a knife.

Luckily, the officer was able to fight off his attacker but did receive minor injuries to his hands and face as he defended himself from the knife.

He added: “I must stress that I was in no means lured into this situation.

“ I hope the gentleman who alerted me to the incident knows that he has done nothing wrong and everything he did was in the best interest. If he is reading this I would encourage him to speak to officers, even if it is anonymously.”

Detectives in Runcorn are still appealing for information from the local community in a bid to piece together what happened that day.

In particular they are keen to identify the attacker who fled the scene along with the other three men.

He is described as white, in his 30s, over 5ft ins tall, of slim build and had a strong Liverpool accent.

He was wearing a black North Face bubble style jacket, which had the logo on the left chest, and a black snood in a fleece material with a black toggle in the middle.

His Karrimor gloves were black with a white logo on the top and the light grey joggers he was wearing had a thick single dark stripe on the outer side running from the knee down towards his black trainers.

Chief Inspector Sarah Heath, of Runcorn Local Policing Unit, said: “It’s fantastic to see Duncan back at work, engaging with the local community and not letting this vicious attack affect him.

“I know there are people out there who know what happened, they know who did this but they just need to come forward.

“Although this was an isolated incident, it concerns me that someone who attacked a serving officer is still being protected.

“Please, do the right thing and come forward with any information, if you’re hesitant or scared then contact Crimestoppers anonymously.”

Runcorn MP Mike Amesbury met PCSO Brown and PCSO Paul Barker at a children’s Christmas party in Halton Brook Community Centre

Mr Amesbury said: “It was great to see that Duncan is doing well and back on duty already.

“I was also pleased that he’d seen that I’d raised the issue in Parliament, because I think it’s really important that people in his position – who are out there risking their safety for the communities they serve day in and day out – know how seriously we take incidents such as this.”  

Anyone who has any information, or may know the identity of the attacker is asked to contact Cheshire Police on 101 quoting incident 668 of 23 November.

Information can also be passed on anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.