Man in serious condition after being stabbed in the chest in Blackburn (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Man in serious condition after being stabbed in the chest in Blackburn

12:00pm Saturday 13th October 2012 in News

A MAN in is a serious condition in hospital after he was stabbed in the chest in Blackburn.

Police were called to a terrace house in Downham Street, in the Wensley Fold area of the town, after paramedics responded to reports of a stabbing.

When officers arrived they discovered 38-year-old Lee Pickering collapsed in the lounge of the property.

A 44-year-old man from Blackburn has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

The victim, from Blackburn, had been visiting the house, which is rented by his friend Julie Taylor, police said.

He was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital for treatment where his condition is now described as ‘serious but stable’.

He has been fitted with a chest drain and is due to have an operation on the wound in his chest cavity.

However, doctors said he had a lucky escape and his injuries were not life threatening.

This incident on Thursday is not being treated as a domestic incident.

Det Sgt Marc Saunders, of Blackburn CID, is leading the investigation. He said he is keeping an open mind at this stage into the motive of the attack.

He said: “This was a serious incident resulting in a very serious injury that the victim will need surgery for.

“We are still investigating the circumstances of the attack and we are currently questioning one man we have in custody.

“I appeal for anyone who was in or around the Downham Street area of Blackburn at around 6.45pm on Thursday or anyone who knows something about this incident to come forward. We wish to speak to these people as they may have seen something crucial to our investigation.”

Nearby residents said they were shocked to discover such a ‘serious and nasty attack’ had happened on their doorsteps.

Sandra Pledger, 65, said: “As I arrived home from work there were two police cars and two ambulances in the street with their blue lights flashing.

“It all looked very dramatic.

“I am not surprised there was trouble at that house. There always seems to be a queue of people going in there to drink.

“But I am shocked the incident was so serious and nasty.”

Another resident said: “I have had to make several complaints to the tennant’s landlord about all the goings on there. On one occassion just a couple of months ago I woke up to find a very drunk man sleeping in the front garden of the property with his trousers around his ankles.

“This isn’t the nicest area of Blackburn but we don’t expect that.

“This latest incident is really scary. You just don’t expect this to happen on your doorstep.”

Sanira Ditta, 24, of nearby Grindleton Street, said: “I just arrived home to see all the police tape and a cordoned preventing me accessing the alleyway behind my home.

“We have had a few problems with that house. As far as I know there are three people living there including a women and two men.

“I have even spotted people sleeping in the back yard recently, I think they were homeless.

“The front window of the house has only just been replaced after someone put a brick through it the other week.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimsetoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.