A gypsy gang chopped off a man’s genitals after they discovered he had slept with one of their girlfriends, it has been reported.
Police brought a busy dual carriageway to a standstill today to hunt for a penis after he was discovered severely injured at the side of the A-road.
The 40-year-old was discovered in a distressed state on the side of the A66 dual carriageway in Middlesbrough this morning, Cleveland Police have confirmed. It has been reported that the man was seen searching in undergrowth.
A member of staff at Asda close to where the incident happened said he heard the man had suffered the horrendous injury to his groin.
Standstill: Police brought closed a busy dual carriageway to hunt for a man’s penis after he was discovered severely injured at the side of the road.
Distressed: The 40-year-old was discovered in a distressed state on the side of the A66 dual carriageway in Middlesbrough this morning, Cleveland Police have confirmed.
{Probe: A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault in relation to the incident was being held in police custody this afternoon.
He added: ‘A few of the Asda staff have been talking and apparently it was some gypsy men doing it to another guy after they found out he had slept with one of their girlfriends.
‘I don’t know his name but that seems to be what I have heard.’
Although police would only say that the man had suffered serious injuries and wounds to his groin area, it is understood that his penis had been cut off and was missing, prompting officers to close sections of the route in order to search for it.
Around eight officers were seen combing a grass verge at the side of the road, while tape was used to seal off a section of the carriageway.
Officers search the verge of the dual carriageway for the man’s organ and other forensic evidence.
A member of staff at Asda close to where the incident happened said he heard the man had suffered the horrendous injury to his groin.
Road block: This stretch of the A66 was sealed off by police investigating the incident.
The road closed some time between 4.20am and 9am and was open again by midday. The police closed east bound carriageway first while they searched, then west bound.
A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault in relation to the incident was held in police custody this afternoon, where he was being questioned by officers and was bailed
pending further enquiries.
The injured man, of Southbank, Middlesbrough, was found at 4.50am with serious injuries and was taken to hospital by ambulance, officers said.
Ambulance: The injured man, of Southbank, Middlesbrough, was found at 4.50am with serious injuries and was taken to hospital.
Investigation: Officers were said to be ‘keeping an open mind’ as to how the man was injured.
‘The road closures were required as part of the investigation into how the man received his injuries,’ said a police spokesman.
‘This is necessary so that officers can look for anything which may shed light on how he became injured or his direction of travel.’
The police had taped off a Vauxhall Zafira on a nearby gypsy site.
He added: ‘If the road was not closed any evidence could be lost or destroyed.’
‘Investigations are at a very early stage.’
