Ex-Council leader car-jacked

Allen Brett

Former leader of Rochdale Council Allen Brett was the victim of a car-jacking near Rochdale Labour Club on Tuesday (20 January).

The ex-Councillor was accosted by a gang of three youths, who made off in his car, which has not yet been found by police.

Mr Brett was in his car when the three youths pulled up in a car alongside him. One of them told him that he had a puncture but when he got out to check one of the youths pushed Mr Brett away and raced off in his car.

Mr Brett, now working as the agent of Rochdale's Parliamentary Candidate Simon Danczuk, was left shaken but without any injuries after the incident, which took place after he had left an evening meeting at the Labour Club on Oldham Road. .

"I wrongly thought these youths were acting like good Samaritans," he said. "When I got out they pushed me out of the way and got in my car as quick as a flash and raced off. This was just business to them, it all happened so fast. Looking back on it now I’m a bit annoyed at myself for being naïve.”

He urged other drivers not to make the same mistake and be extra vigilant. “If you do get out of your car always switch off your engine,” he said, adding that he had nothing but praise for the police response. “They were very sympathetic and helpful; they’ve done everything you would expect.”

Mr Brett is the latest victim of a spate of car-jacking incidents across Greater Manchester, with several incidents being reported in Rochdale. In the last few weeks an elderly man was dragged out of his vehicle in a vicious attack in Firgrove and a local taxi driver suffered 20 stitches from a head wound after he was the victim of a nasty car-jacking in Kirkholt.

The leader of Manchester Council, Sir Richard Leese, was also the victim of a recent car-jacking.