Student stabbed to death by mugger while celebrating university place

David Brown, 24, had been out with a friend toasting his success in securing a four-year languages course in pursuit of his dream of becoming an English tutor in Spain.

He was walking home alone when he was ambushed for his wallet and knifed three times in the thighs.

It is believed he managed to stagger back to his digs in a student district of Hulme, Manchester, but collapsed outside and died.

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Yesterday, his mother Sylvia spoke of her grief. "It is more than I can bear that he died on his own," said the 51-year-old pensions worker, of Burnley.

"I will never come to terms with this. You expect your family to die when they are older surrounded by those who love them.

"If the person who has done this has any conscience or heart they must come forward.

"David wanted to go and live in Spain. He had been over there on holidays and fell in love with the place. He was a sensible lad who had now found out what his dream was and was really focused on getting there."

David, who moved to Manchester four years ago, had been working as a manager at a frozen foods store.

After visiting Spain he decided to study the language and return as a teacher. He won a BA place at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Last Thursday, he went out to celebrate with a friend. They visited several bars and a nightclub but became separated. David was seen alive in the early hours when he left the club. His body was found after dawn on his doorstep.

Police are currently trawling through CCTV footage to try to piece together what happened. Officers believe he may have been targeted because he had withdrawn cash from an ATM. He had no money or wallet on him when he was found.

A post-mortem examination revealed he died from a stab wound to his left thigh. His 13-year- old brother Samuel has set up a website to encourage people to come forward with information.

His sister Zoe, 29, said: "I'm trying to be strong but the smallest thing has me in floods of tears. It hasn't sunk in yet for any of us.

"One of the hardest things is not knowing where he was when he was stabbed and how long it took him to get home.

"We need people to come forward. We don't know if this was intentional. Someone might not realise the seriousness of what they've done."