A 40 year old man was the victim of a serious assault on Tuesday 24th January, sustaining stab wounds to the buttocks.

The victim was walking on Motherwell Road in Bellshill, near to Raith Drive, around 9pm on Tuesday 24th January. He was approached by two other men who started punching him around the face and robbed him of a three-figure sum of money and other valuables and personal belongings. The men then ran off and at this point the victim discovered he had been stabbed around the buttocks.

Detective Sergeant Stewart at Bellshill Police Office is leading the investigation. He said:

"This was a particularly nasty incident where a man has been allegedly stabbed around the legs and buttock area. He was also punched and kicked about the face and body. The incident appears to have been unprovoked as the complainer was approached and attacked with no warning. We are looking for any witnesses to the incident to come forward to assist in the enquiry."

The man was examined by a police casualty surgeon, who treated the bruising to his face and body and stabbing injuries to his upper legs and buttocks.

The suspects are described as: aged between 24 to 26, around 5'6", with dark brown short hair with a fringe and wearing a grey hooded top with dark writing, with the hood up; and aged around 30, 6 feet tall, blonde hair and wearing a light grey jacket with a dark coloured hooded top, a cream scarf wrapped around his face and blue jeans. He also wore brown metal toe cap boots.

Please contact (01698) 202400 if you have any information about this incident. You can also call Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.