Published: Wednesday, 25th March, 2009 12:32pm

Man's hand nearly cut off by car theives

by Angela Murphy

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A YOUNG man was struck on the head with a machete and almost had his hand hacked off by knife thugs as he sat in his car.

Two men targeted the 20-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman as they pulled over outside a house in Bridge of Weir.

They threatened the terrified couple in Mimosa Road by forcing open the driver"s door and demanding they hand over money.

The violent thieves managed to grab the woman"s handbag before carrying out the sickening attack on the young man.

A machete was brandished as the thugs started attacking the victim, who police say, has no idea why he was assaulted.

During the unprovoked attack, the victim"s left wrist was slashed and he also sustained a 4cm cut to the back of his head.

His head had to be operated on at Paisley"s Royal Alexandra Hospital and he also suffered a fractured wrist.

Police are now hunting the attackers but unfortunately say the victims were not able to give them any descriptions.

A shocked local dad-of-two said: 'This is a quiet area - you don"t expect to hear about things like that happening, especially as it wasn"t that late at night.

'There are young boys that hang around the end of the street who should be avoided though.'

Now cops have launched an appeal to help hunt down the thugs before they strike again.

A spokesperson for Strathclyde Police said: 'We are actively looking for witnesses to come forward and help find who carried out this shocking attack.

'If you were in the area at around 21.50pm on Friday March 20 and saw or heard anything that could help us with our inquiries, please phone Johnstone CID on 01505 404000.'

Both families of the victims declined to comment on the attack.