Man stabbed in head in Cheltenham reaching for phone
A murder investigation has begun after a man was stabbed in the head in Cheltenham while apparently trying to retrieve his stolen mobile phone.
Keith Soons, 36, from Gloucester, was found with serious head injuries by a passer-by in Wellington Lane, Pitville, at about 0800 GMT on Saturday.
Mr Soons, the father of a young daughter, died later in Cheltenham General Hospital.
A Gloucestershire Police spokesman said his iPhone 4 was missing.
'Blood on clothing'
Det Supt Simon Atkinson, from Gloucestershire Police, said: "This is a tragic case where it appears a man has tried to retrieve his stolen property and in doing so received fatal injuries.
"Preliminary post-mortem results show that Mr Soons is likely to have died from a penetrative puncture wound to the side of his head.
"It is too early to say exactly what caused this but it is thought to have been a screwdriver-type implement."
Officers are making house-to-house inquiries, and more than 30 detectives are working on the case.
Det Supt Atkinson asked anyone who had recently been offered an iPhone 4 or knows anyone who might have obtained one illegally to contact the force.
He added: "Those responsible could well have been injured or have blood on their clothing.
"We are appealing to anyone who has knowledge of those involved to get in touch."