A couple have issued a warning after being attacked in the centre of Manchester by a gang targeting high-end watches.
Interior designers Wesley Fellows and Peter Snowdon, from Shropshire, were staying in the city to see friends when they reported being assaulted by four men who were lying in wait on their way home from a night out.
Posting on social media, photos of the pair show they sustained head injuries and scratches in the attack, which left them bleeding after the thieves snatched Wesleys Rolex.
They said they had previously thought of organised watch theft as a London problem, adding they will never feel the same about Manchester again.
The pair, who run a successful business in Albrighton that has brought them into the circles of the rich an famous - mixing with the likes of Sinitta, Alan Carr and Julien McDonald - were enjoying drinks with friends on Sunday night before the incident occurred.
Interior designers Wesley Fellows and Peter Snowdon, from Shropshire, were staying in the city to see friends when they reported being assaulted by four men
The attack happened after the couple went for drinks on Canal Street (pictured) last night
After leaving Canal Street in the early hours of Monday morning, the pair headed back to their hotel on Ducie Street.
Posting on their joint account on X, formerly Twitter, the pair said the gang attacked us both to steal Wes’s Rolex watch.
They continued: It happened so fast and they ran off once they got it off him. Wes is badly bruised and cut but we’re thankful it wasn’t more serious.
We’ve always felt safe when visiting Manchester but these guys were lying in wait for people at the top of Canal Street and were hassling people ahead of us earlier on.
We’re obviously devastated and shell shocked but my Wes will be ok. Highlighting here because people need to be aware of this.
The pair called police, and Greater Manchester Police sent officers to the couples hotel room to make a crime report.
Mr Snowdon, who wrote the social media post, said there is definitely some organisation behind the attack, adding he had seen the same individuals hassling single guys and couples ahead of us.
Posting on their joint account on X, formerly Twitter , the pair said the gang attacked us both to steal Wes’s Rolex watch
The pair were walking back to their hotel on Ducie Street (pictured) in the early hours of Monday morning
He continued: Please ladies and gents - do not let your guard down and don’t wear anything of any value in the centre of Manchester.
I thought this watch theft thing was a London thing but it happened to us and was a terrible end to an otherwise lovely day.
Not hopeful this will be followed up or if there’s any CCTV footage. Please please please be careful. We’ll never feel about Manchester the same way ever again.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: An investigation into common assault and robbery is ongoing with no arrests made at this time.
This is after a report was made from an incident on Sunday 3 November 2024 in the early hours, at around 4am on Ducie Street in the city centre.
Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting incident 552 of 03/11/2024.