University of Leeds graduate robbed at knifepoint in Woodhouse Moor

A University of Leeds graduate student was held at knifepoint in Woodhouse Moor on his way to work.

Harry Kitcher, a freelance graphic designer, was taking his usual route to work through the park at approximately 6.45pm when a group of young men attacked him and held a knife to his chest.

The group stole Harry’s phone and threw his graphic design work into the surrounding mud. His house keys were thrown into the distance of the park.

“It all happened quite quickly,” Harry told The Leeds Tab.

He described getting a bad feeling when he heard someone running up behind him but he thought this may have been a friend.

The man in question jumped on Harry from behind and threw him to the ground. He told Harry to “shut up” and unlock his phone.

“Then two of his mates surrounded me as he was doing that. I couldn’t run anywhere and the path was covered with ice. Then he pulled out a knife and put it to my chest and said: ‘If you scream I’ll chef you up.’”

The young men demanded Harry to give them his wallet but upon explaining that he didn’t have it they threatened once more to stab him.

They also attempted to log in to his mobile banking, however, with his phone on his 4 per cent, he told them that they wouldn’t have much time to reset the phone too.

“I was obviously a bit scared but I was more annoyed than anything that it was actually happening to me because the phone I had was four months old and I’m going to be paying that off until 2027,” Harry explained.

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After the incident, Harry went directly to the police station where he was told he was the third victim of Hyde Park attacks that evening.

Harry, the University of Leeds graduate

The Leeds Tab also spoke to Declan Johnson, a 20-year-old Leeds Arts student, who also fell victim to an attack 10 minutes before Harry.

Both him and his housemate were grabbed by a man on their way home from university. However, they managed to make an escape.

“He told us to wait,” Declan explained.

Declan assumes from Harry’s experience that the young man was waiting on backup from the other men who attacked Harry.

“Thankfully we were able to get free. We ran through the park where we got chased. But when we got out of the park that was it.”

West Yorkshire Police told The Leeds Tab that police officers were despatched to make an area search following Declan’s report of the incident. 

A spokesperson also confirmed that there was a third incident at around the same time where a man reported he had been assaulted on Woodhouse Street.

Both Harry and Declan feel that there is more that can be done to prevent these incidents from happening in future.

“There’s no security in Hyde Park at all,” Harry said.

“Someone said there always used to be a couple police officers patrolling, but they don’t do that anymore. I don’t know why; it’s not like crime has gone down.”

“It doesn’t really seem like the police are taking it that seriously,” Declan added.

In response to these statements, West Yorkshire Police said that “the Hyde Park area is regularly patrolled”.

It also stated that “West Yorkshire Police takes reports of violent incidents seriously.”

Declan also further added that he thinks more can be done to spread awareness: “I genuinely feel like awareness through graphic design like posters would make sure people know about this and know to avoid it.”

Declan, the Leeds Arts student victim

However, following the attacks, both victims no longer feel comfortable in their living area.

Declan explained: “I’m a lot more wary about going outside now like I’m not as comfortable in the dark as I used to be.

“We’d always say: ‘Oh, we’d do this and we’d do that [if we were in that situation]’ but when you’re in that moment everything can change.

“Seeing people walk through [Woodhouse Moor] since that’s happened is crazy. People walk through it looking very confident and fine because nothing’s happened to them.”

Harry also echoed Declan’s concerns adding: “I haven’t walked through [the park] since it happened and I don’t think I will anytime soon.”