A MAN who was left fighting for his life after being stabbed in the neck and robbed has been able to speak to detectives – as police step up their presence in the attack area.

The 39-year-old victim suffered life-threatening injuries in a shocking unprovoked assault which happened on Thursday night while he was walking to his girlfriend’s house for dinner.

A man wearing a hoodie stabbed him and grabbed his wallet and phone on a stairwell linking Inverkip Road and Pennyfern Road shortly after 7pm.

The man managed to stagger some distance away after his attacker fled and he was found on Inverkip Road near Branchton Railway Station. He was rushed to hospital, underwent emergency 
surgery and is now in a stable condition.

Detective Inspector David Wagstaff, of Greenock CID, said: “He is still in hospital and is stable, he has spoken to us. Inquiries are continuing and it is being treated as a robbery with life-threatening injuries.”

The man sustained a ‘deep serious horizontal laceration’ in a life-threatening area of his neck.

His attacker was wearing a hooded top and a scarf wrapped round his face.

In the wake of the incident police cordoned off a large area next to the railway station and also sealed off the area at the stairwell where the attack happened, pictured.

DI Wagstaff said: “I have a dedicated team working to identify the culprit responsible for this attack but they need the assistance of the local community who may be able to provide vital information in tracking him down.

“I appeal to anyone who saw a man hanging around the area prior to this incident taking place or running off afterwards or anyone who perhaps even witnessed the attack itself to contact police urgently.

“Can I also ask anyone who was driving past and has a dashcam camera to check the footage as they may have captured the attack or the suspect in the area.

“If so, please contact police immediately.”

“There will be additional officers in the area and I urge anyone with information or concerns to speak to these officers.”

If anyone has any information they should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.