Man stabbed in head during brawl outside shop 'sparked by attempt to pickpocket disabled man'

Two thugs have been spared jail for their part in a brawl outside a shop sparked by an alleged attempt to pickpocket a disabled man.

Derrick Igbodo, 35, and Anthony Murphy, 50, were caught on camera kicking and punching a man as he lay in the street.

Manchester Crown Court heard how the fight took place outside a shop at around 8.40am on Mersey Bank Avenue in Chorlton on 9 May last year.

Prosecutor Alison Mather said CCTV footage from inside the store appears to show Murphy shopping and then seeing something happen outside the doorway to the left-hand side.

Derrick Igbodo, 35, kicked the man while he was on the floor, the court heard (ASP)

"He later returns with a cut to his head," she said.

Footage from outside the shop shows Murphy chasing the victim who then turns and hits him in the head with an unknown implement.

The court heard Murphy was 'slashed' with a weapon that caused a cut to the head and required five stiches in hospital.

He has been left with a permanent scar.

The CCTV shows Murphy and Igbodo kicking and punching the victim on the ground and 'dragging him into the road', Miss Mather said.

"They then let go of [the victim] who got to his feet and made off," she added.

Andy Evans, defending both Igbodo and Murphy, said that the CCTV 'doesn't cover what happened round the corner' from the shop.

But the defendants claim that the victim 'was engaged in trying to pickpocket a friend of theirs.'

"Certainly the shopkeeper is alerted to something going on which preceded all this," Mr Evans said.

"It begins with Mr Murphy and Mr Igbodo trying to protect their friend who is a man with physical disabilities.

"Put quite simply, [the victim] stabbed Mr Murphy in the back of the head leaving a sizeable scar."

Police at the scene on Mersey Bank Avenue in Chorlton last year (Manchester Evening News)

"Whether this was excessive self-defence or not... it was significant provocation in my submission."

Mr Evans said Igbodo, of Whiteholme Avenue, Chorlton, is a father to a ten-year-old daughter who is studying a Business Management course.

Murphy, of Calderdale Avenue, Chorlton, has been 'unfit to work' for many years and is in receipt of Universal Credit, the court heard.

Igbodo pleaded guilty to section 39 assault and was handed an 18 month community order with up to ten rehabiliation days.

Murphy admitted the same charge and was given a conditional discharge for twelve months.