A man has been jailed for 10 years after CCTV footage showed him and two others chasing down a victim on e-bikes before hacking him with a machete in Leigh, Greater Manchester.
Kade Cox, 20, of Walker Road, Salford, was sentenced at Bolton Crown Court on Monday August 17 after pleading guilty to robbery, burglary with intent to steal and two counts of burglary.
Attack caught on CCTV
The shocking video shows three balaclava-wearing thugs patrolling around Leigh before they spot their target, a rider wearing an orange coat, on April 17, 2025. The robbers chased the victim, wanting to steal the Surron electric bike he was riding.
In an attempt to escape, the victim rode to his home on Melrose Avenue but slammed into a wall outside after failing to stop. One of the thugs can be heard shouting "grab him now" as the victim attempted to escape, but he was punched to the ground.
Another then pulled out a machete and repeatedly struck the man while he screamed "no" while attempting to hold onto his bike. The victim suffered serious injuries, including a severe laceration to his thumb and cuts to his face, before the offenders stole the bike and fled.
Series of thefts linked
Greater Manchester Police launched an investigation, and Cox was later identified as one of the thieves. It was revealed he was part of a string of three other incidents between April and July 2025, all involving the theft or attempted theft of motorbikes and electric bikes.
- On June 4 2025, three offenders targeted a shed in Leigh and stole two motorbikes worth thousands of pounds.
- On July 19 2025, offenders broke into a garage in Tyldesley and stole three bikes, including a Honda motorbike and an electric bike.
- On July 25 2025, three offenders forced entry to a garage in Leigh but left empty-handed when they realised there were no motorbikes inside.
Officers linked Cox to the offences through extensive CCTV and telecommunications enquiries, including social media scanning and mobile phone evidence.
Sentencing and police comment
Due to the severity of the April incident, it was noted Cox would need to serve at least 7.5 years in custody before he can be released.
Senior investigating officer PC Richard Kelsall of Wigan's neighbourhood team said: "This was a horrific attack which left a victim with significant injuries.
"Kade Cox alongside two others looked to incite fear and violence through any means possible just so they could steal an electric bike. This was a sustained and targeted series of thefts and burglaries, one of which left a victim with significant injuries.
"I would particularly like to note the courage of the victim who has bravely supported this investigation and continued to do so throughout sentencing.
"We hope this sentence demonstrates our determination to pursue offenders who target our communities and commit violent offences for their own personal gain."
