A MAN has been charged with attempted murder after a doctor was stabbed following a visit to a patient in Tewkesbury.
The victim, a 58-year-old doctor at Church Street Surgery in Tewkesbury, was being treated for stab wounds to his shoulder and several other injuries following an alleged attack.
The incident happened at an address in Cotteswold Road at about 3.50pm on Wednesday, May 8.
His injuries are not life threatening.
Arrested
Police have now arrested and charged a suspected attacker.
They have arrested 31-year-old Ben Pettitt, of no fixed abode, who has been charged with attempted murder following an incident.
Pettitt appeared at court on the morning of Friday, May 10, and he was remanded in custody.
He will appear at Gloucester Crown Court on May 31.
Dr Andrew Rigby, a senior partner at Church Street Surgery in Tewkesbury, said: "We can confirm that a doctor from the practice suffered injuries after attending to a patient earlier this week.
"Our focus is on supporting our colleague and his family at this time and ensuring service continuity for our patients.
"We will support the police in their on-going investigations.
"Due to legal proceedings we are unable to make any further comment at this time."
A spokeswoman for Gloucestershire Police added: "The victim, a 58-year-old man from Tewkesbury, was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital where he was treated for stab wounds to his shoulder, cuts to his head and an injury to his hand.
"His injuries are not believed to be life threatening."
Figures
Tewkesbury is considered a safe place to live.
Figures released in April by the UK's first-ever peace index named the town the fifth safest place to live in the South West.
The survey was based on levels of violent crime, homicide and weapons crime.
According to crime statistics, anti-social behaviour is by far the most common offence in the Tewkesbury community.
On the other end of the spectrum, crime figures show there are only a handful of violent crimes in the area each year.
Over the past 12 months, there has been an 11.3 per cent reduction in crime within the borough itself.
In light of recent statistics, safety officers at the borough council said that it would strive to keep it as one of the top five most peaceful places in the region.
Philip Workman, councillor for Tewkesbury Town with Mitton, said: "Tewkesbury, as many people will know, is an extremely calm area and it has got a good (crime) record."