Doctor warns Dagenham park users after kids threaten to ‘pull a knife’ on him
Suresh Bheri who faced unwanted attention during a jog in Parsloes park - Credit: Archant
Park users are being urged to watch out after a gang of children threatened to pull a knife on a doctor and tried to hit him with a scooter while he was out running.
Suresh Bheri who faced unwanted attention during a jog in Parsloes park - Credit: Archant
GP Suresh Bheri, 35, of Dagenham, was jogging in Parsloes Park at about 6.30pm on Tuesday last week when four youngsters approached him and demanded he hand over his mobile phone.
He was easily able to outrun the group, who he believes were between eight and 14 years old, but was shocked by the experience.
“I couldn’t believe people would do something like that in broad daylight in a public place,” he said. “One of them even threatened to pull a knife on me.
“It could have happened to anybody so I’d advise others to watch out.
“My own children are only young so I don’t let them wander off by themselves, but this has made me really quite scared for them.”
Dr Bheri was running around the park’s lake at the time, not far from a children’s play area.
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The group initially appeared friendly, asking what music he was listening to on his headphones, but things swiftly turned sour.
After asking to see his mobile phone, he claims the smallest and youngest-looking of the group tried to hit him with his three-wheeled scooter, before another threatened to pull out a knife.
Although unhurt physically, the experience has made him think twice about living in the area.
He added: “I’ve been debating leaving Dagenham for a while, and this has just sped up my decision – it’s certainly put me off running in that bit of the park.”
Anyone with information about the attempted mugging is asked to call police on 101, or phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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