Wharfedale Observer

Old soldier beats knife hitcher

From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Friday 7th Jun 2002.

A 70-year-old Korean War veteran today told how he fought-off a hitch-hiker who tried to steal his car armed with a 15-inch kitchen knife.

Ray Paxton, pictured, of Little Horton, grappled with his attacker, who pounced after hitching a lift in the pensioner's car to a quiet country lane in Wyke, Bradford.

During a terrifying 15 minute confrontation, the pair fought over the keys to the Ford Escort before a passer-by eventually raised the alarm.

Today police appealed for help in tracking down the man responsible and issued an e-fit of the suspect who fled from the scene and evaded a large-scale police hunt.

An officer said the incident was a "horrendous attack on a good Samaritan."

Mr Paxton, who won a United Nations' medal for his actions in the Korean War, told how he had been left shocked by the attempted car-jack in broad daylight.

"I was a bit upset because I have not known violence like this since the Korean War, when there was a lot of hand-to-hand fighting like this," he said.

"He probably hoped I would be an easy-touch, but he made a mistake. I suppose he picked the wrong man for a fight. If you are going to use a weapon like the one he had, then you don't mess around like he did!"

Mr Paxton had been travelling along Cleckheaton Road out of Bradford when his ordeal began.

The hitch-hiker in his late teens flagged him down and requested a lift to his friend's farm near Wyke.

Mr Paxton agreed, and drove the man to the address, along a remote dirt track off Knowle Lane. The youth walked up to the farm house, but then returned and declared it was the wrong address.

"He brought a knife out of the inside of his jacket and ordered me to get out of the car and leave the keys in," said Mr Paxton, of Brunel Gardens.

"I was terrified and annoyed as well and told him: `Not on your life'.

"I tried to set off but the door was open so he was able to get in the car. I thought the best thing I could do was to shout for help and keep hold of the keys."

The pair fought before Mr Paxton eventually grabbed the keys and ran down the lane with the attacker in pursuit. The pair grappled again and the young man ripped Mr Paxton's clothes before escaping with the keys.

"He sped off back to the car, but I was there nearly as quick," he said.

The hitch-hiker then tried to drive away but Mr Paxton refused to give in.

"I grabbed hold of the steering wheel and refused to let go. I would sooner have damaged the car than let him get away with it."

Mr Paxton managed to steer the car off the road and on to the verge where it came to a halt, and he eventually seized the keys.

The ordeal ended when a group of youngsters walked up the road and the suspect fled.

Today Mr Paxton, whose other war honours include an American Citation, Africa Star medal, and two mentions in dispatches, said he had been determined to keep hold of his black L-registered Escort.

"It's getting on a bit now," he admitted. "But it's the only one I've got and I was damned if I was going to let him have it!"

PC Paul Fleming, of Bradford Central Police's Robbery Team, appealed for help in tracking down the youth responsible.

He said officers were continuing to speak to witnesses who may have seen the suspect around the time of the incident, at 3.30pm on Tuesday. They are investigating a theory that the knife had earlier been placed at the scene of the attack.

"This was an horrendous attack on what appears to be a member of the public going out of his way to assist another person," said PC Watson. "What started out as the actions of a good Samaritan have ended in an absolute horror story.

"This was an unprovoked attack and we need to track down who is responsible because he is clearly a dangerous individual."

The suspect is described as 5ft 9ins, in his late teens, with short mousey dark hair in a slight parting style. He had a boyish face, thin lips, and pale complexion. He was clean shaven, with a one inch recent cut near his right eye.

He was wearing a red tracksuit jacket with a white stripe, with a cream coloured zip-up top underneath, and dark blue tracksuit bottoms. Anyone with information should call PC Fleming on (01274) 376483.

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