Man ‘disabled for life’ after his fingers were slashed by a CLOWN wielding 10-inch knife

A "KILLER CLOWN" brandishing a 10-inch knife severed a man's fingers and "disabled him for life".

Simon Chinery, 28, was at a cashpoint after a night out when his "horror movie" attacker in green wig slashed at him.

The joiner felled the clown with a punch and fled, soaked in blood, in Blackburn, Lancs.

Dad-of-one Simon, of Shadsworth, who had three fingers hacked, said: "I was petrified, sick to my stomach."

The clown was in full costume with sinister painted face.

"He didn't have a mask on but his make-up looked scary. His eyes were piercing black. I panicked, he held the knife towards me and I used my instinct and tried to push the knife away. I grabbed it and he pulled. I worked against the blade and my fingers exploded. There was blood everywhere.

"It happened so quickly. I was in shock and ran home. My mum phoned an ambulance and I was taken to hospital straight away."

A specialist at Preston hospital told him his hand would be damaged for life and he would need reconstructive surgery.

Mr Chinery, who hangs doors for a living, added: "This attack has ruined my life. I am disabled from this and can't return to my trade. I am just glad I wasn't with my son. I was absolutely hysterical. I have been having nightmares and the pain is unreal."

He said of the unnerving killer-clown prankster craze that's arrived on Britain's streets from the US: "Parents and kids need to know what's happening because it's getting out of control. The police need to do something, it's a joke too far."

A police spokesman said: “A 28-year-old man was approached by someone dressed as a clown. It appears the male clown has pulled out a knife which the victim tried to grab. He has received injuries to three fingers.

“An investigation has been launched."

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