A STRANGER stepped in to stop an attack on a disabled man by yobs in Nelson.

The victim, who has Down’s Syndrome, was bullied by three men who filmed the abuse at 3.15pm on Thursday, May 21.

The Good Samaritan was driving in the Halifax Road and Hibson Road area of the town near to St Paul’s School when he saw a man in his 30s being pushed and shoved, as well as being subjected to taunts.

MORE TOP STORIES:

The witness intervened but the victim walked away before the he was able to speak to him. The three abusers were all Asian and the police are treating the incident as a disability-related hate crime.

Detectives now want to speak to the victim, who was wearing a blue jacket and was carrying a Wilkinsons bag.

Melissa Kelly, from the Hate Crime and Cohesion Team, said: “It is thanks to the Good Samaritan who stepped in and intervened that the situation did not escalate any further and more serious harm was not caused.

“Since the incident was reported to us we have been trying to trace the victim to see if he is OK but we have been unable to locate him.

“We are very keen to speak to him to ensure that it doesn’t happen again and to offer him any support should he choose to accept it.

“We are also keen to trace the three men involved in the incident and we know that there were a number of people in the area at the time who may have witnessed it.”

Anyone with information can contact the Hate Crime and Cohesion Team on 01254 353 540 or call the police on 101, quoting crime reference EG1502626.