The appeals Oxford police want your help with this week

‘Slavery victim’ turned up at Oxford police station

A 41-year-old man arrived at St Aldates police station claiming he’d been held as a slave in London, beaten with a baseball bat by his slave master then dropped off on a road in Oxfordshire on August 31.

It wasn’t until the following day that he was able to flag down a driver on the A40 between Wheatley and Oxford. The Good Samaritan, thought to be driving a Mercedes, dropped the slavery ‘victim’ off near the central Oxford police station.

Appealing for the driver to come forward, the Metropolitan Police’s Det Con Alex McGregor said: “The driver of the Mercedes provided much needed help to the victim in this case and he is extremely grateful that he dropped him off close to a place of safety.

“We need to identify the driver and speak to him about the incident to progress our investigation and would urge him to come forward.”

READ MORE: Full description of ‘beaten slavery victim’ who was dropped off at Oxford police station

St Aldates' Police Station Picture: NQ

Boy, 17, kicked at Didcot fair

A teenager was approached by a gang of boys at the fair held near Didcot Town FC on October 8.

The group hit and kicked the 17-year-old, who suffered bruising to his face and head and scratches on his back.

The four attackers were said to be white boys aged between 15 and 17.

PC Edward Dodd of Abingdon police station said: “We also believe that there may be mobile phone footage of this incident and would ask the public to report this to us.”

The attack happened between 8pm and 8.30pm on October 8.

READ MORE: Boy, 17, beaten by youth gang at the fair

Man absconds from open prison

John Loveridge walked out of HMP Spring Hill, Buckinghamshire, on Sunday.

Thames Valley Police said in an appeal to track down the missing prisoner that he could be in the Bicester area.

The 36-year-old, described as a career criminal when he was jailed for 12 vehicle crimes in August 2020, is currently serving a sentence at the open prison.

READ MORE: Prisoner John Loveridge absconds from HMP Spring Hill

John Loveridge Picture: TVP

Did you see crash that left woman injured?

Traffic cops reissued an appeal for witnesses a month after a three-car crash on the A34 between Abingdon and Hinksey Hill.

A black Vauxhall Vivaro van, a silver Volkswagen Polo and a Sainsbury’s liveried Mercedes Sprinter box van were involved in the crash at around 2.15pm on Saturday, September 18.

A 24-year-old woman, who was driving the VW Polo, was seriously injured and taken to hospital for treatment.

Crash investigator PC Darren Baker said: “We have not had a great many people come forward with information.

“However, there were a lot of road users on the A34 at the time of the collision and we are sure there are more witnesses who saw the collision who could have vital information.”

READ MORE: Renewed appeal after crash that involved Sainsbury’s van

Stabbing in Blackbird Leys, Oxford

A man in his 30s was stabbed by a group of masked men in Blackbird Leys Park on Tuesday evening.

Police were called by the ambulance service after the victim was found in Gillians Park, Greater Leys. He suffered stab wounds to his buttock, leg and wrist.

An 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent. He was later released under investigation.

The attack came just two days after a fatal stabbing in Pinnocks Way, Botley.

READ MORE: Stab gang set upon victim in Blackbird Leys park

Police were seen in Gillians Park, Greater Leys, near the Spar shop and at the end of this street

Renewed effort to identify Cowley Road attacker

Police officers want to speak to this man in connection with an attack in May that left the victim, a man in his 20s, with broken bones in his face.

The victim was walking home along Cowley Road with friends at around 11.15pm on Saturday, May 8.

He tried to step in to interrupt a fight between another group of men. He was punched in the face and knocked out. When he came round he again attempted to break up the fight but was attacked by another man and fell into a glass door.

PC Matthew Stansfield of Cowley police station said: “This was a vicious attack on someone who was trying to broker peace after a fight broke out.

“As a result of this his cheek bone was broken in three places, he received a fractured eye socket, a broken nose, and a fractured jaw, as well as a broken hand and foot.”

READ MORE: Picture of suspect in ‘vicious’ Cowley Road attack

The man police want to speak to in connection with the Cowley attack Picture: TVP

Three car crash on the A34

A Mercedes lorry, Peugeot van and Ford Fiesta were involved in a crash on the A34 northbound near the Kidlington slip road at around 7am on Friday, October 22.

The Fiesta driver, a 31-year-old woman, had to be cut from her car by fire crews and was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

The 52-year-old man who was driving the van suffered minor injuries. The HGV driver, 51, was unhurt.

PC Andy Wickens said: “This collision occurred at the beginning of the rush hour and I am appealing to anybody who witnessed the collision to please contact us.

“I would particularly like to hear from anybody who may have captured the collision on dash-cam, so I would urge people to please check their cameras and contact Thames Valley Police if you have any footage.”

READ MORE: Police appeal for witnesses after A34 crash

The person police think may have witnessed Bicester bag theft Picture: TVP

Are you this mobility scooter user?

Officers want to speak to this mobility scooter user – after a bag was snatched outside a Bicester Sainsbury’s.

The bag was taken from a bench outside the supermarket in Pioneer Way at around 12.10pm on Friday, October 22. It contained the victim's purse and a 'large quantity of money'.

PC Jon Livingston of Bicester police station said: “We are releasing this CCTV image as we believe this person may have information that could help us with the investigation."

READ MORE: Bag snatched outside Sainsbury’s in Bicester

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