Police probing road-rage attack after 'knifeman followed traumatised family for 30 minutes'

The dad, who was with his wife and two children, aged ten and 11, said the experience was 'terrifying' and they were all 'shaken'

A 'traumatised' family-of-four told how they were followed by a maniac van driver for almost 30 minutes in a terrifying road rage altercation. They claimed the driver approached them at a police station as they tried to raise the alarm 'while carrying sharp knives before kicking and spitting' at their car.

West Midlands Police is probing the incident, which ran between Belgrave Middleway and Smethwick Police Station, at around 1.30pm, on Sunday, September 8. The dad, who was with his wife and their two children, aged ten and 11, said the experience was "terrifying", and left them all "shaken."

They said four officers appeared from the station and the incident was reported with pictures of the alleged suspect, posted above, handed over. The family claimed no officer was initially assigned the case due to a "lack of resources." However, police have since picked up the case and have "active lines of inquiry they are progressing."

READ MORE: Man charged with attempted child abduction after police alerted to incidents involving three girls

No arrests have been made and inquiries continue. The 33-year-old dad, who would not be named, told BirminghamLive: "We went through a terrifying experience that has left us shaken. My children are still traumatised by the event, and I am left feeling frustrated and disillusioned.

"While driving with my wife and young children, a silver van followed us for 25 minutes, from Belgrave Middleway to outside Smethwick Police Station. I was going towards Five Ways roundabout from Moseley, with my family on the dual-carriage, I was in the middle lane and the right lane was closed. The person who caused all this trouble came in the right lane knowing the lane was closed. As soon as he approached where there were cones in the road he made a sharp turn in front of my car.

"I sounded the horn to alert him, but after this he started driving fast and braking sharply. We ignored him and went into the right lane. When we approached near traffic light he threw a cigarette light at us. My side window was open, then he carried on following us.

"Fearing for our safety, we called 999 and were told to head to the nearest police station. When we arrived, we found no officers present. We waited in our car for ten minutes while the van circled the station repeatedly on the one-way road.

"After three laps, the driver parked his van, approached our car on foot, and began shouting and swearing at us. To our horror, he was holding sharp knives. He pushed and kicked our car, spat on our window, and demanded we open the door.

"Throughout this ordeal, we remained on the phone with the police. Thankfully, we managed to escape unharmed and the assailant eventually left."

A police spokeswoman told BirminghamLive: "We are investigating a report of an assault that happened in Smethwick following a road rage incident that began in Birmingham on September 8. We have spoken to the victims and have active lines of enquiry we are progressing. We will contact the victims to keep them updated on how their case is progressing."

Stay up to date with the very latest from your Birmingham or West Midlands street or neighbourhood with our Birmingham News Email Updates