A man was jumped on by a thug who started chanting "Mo Salah" at him as he tried to pull a gold chain from his neck.
Phil Owens, 54, from Old Roan, was walking along Hatton Garden in Liverpool City Centre with his two dogs, Molly and Rueben, in a pram on June 6. While passing the Richmond Hotel he said a man told him he had a nice ring, and he thought nothing of it and carried on walking to St John's Gardens.
But while he was walking home things took a turn when Phil was jumped by a man who started chanting "Mo Salah" at him.
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Phil told the ECHO: "I was just 200 yards from where I live and this man just jumped on me, like when you go to the match and somebody scores a goal. He was shouting "Mo Salah, Mo Salah" and was on the back of my neck.
"I pushed him off and I said 'what are you playing at?' He then punched me in the chest and I said 'get off you divvy'.
"He said sorry and then jumped on me again and then started walking away. I don't know why but I put my hand on my neck and I noticed my gold chain was gone."
Phil said the gold chain the man took was a present from his wife, Andrea, for his 50th birthday. After realising it was gone he shouted to the man "ay you have robbed me, you've got my chain" and he turned around and threw it back at him before running away into Liverpool City Centre.
Phil said: "I went to hospital with pains in my chest, bruising on my chest and pain in my neck. At the time it felt like I had a collapsed lung.
"I had no fear but now I'm constantly looking over my shoulder and feel uneasy. He picked me as being vulnerable because I was pushing my dogs in the pram.
"We [Phil and his wife] haven't been able to sleep since the attack. We have been keeping the windows closed and we shouldn't have to do that in the place where we live."
Merseyside Police is investigating the incident and said a 24-year-old man from Netherton has been arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods.
A spokesperson for the force said: "A man has been arrested following a report of a robbery in Liverpool city centre on Tuesday, June 6. At around 10.30am it was reported that a man was walking along Hatton Garden when a man approached him, shouted in his face and assaulted him. No injuries were reported from the victim.
"The suspect then apologised and walked off. The victim then realised his gold chain was stolen was shouted at the suspect who then dropped the gold chain ran off.
"Following enquires, officers arrested a 24-year-old man from Netherton yesterday, Wednesday 7 June, on suspicion of handling stolen goods. If you have any information on this incident please contact our social media desk on Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ with any information with reference 23000485940."
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