Detectives in plea over head injury student

Nov 24 2007 by Neil Mckay, The Journal

THE condition of a student found unconscious with serious head injuries was “critical but stable” yesterday as prayers were said for his recovery.

Durham University history student Peter Wake remained unconscious in the intensive care unit at Newcastle’s General Hospital.

Doctors had put him under heavy sedation to help stabilise his condition.

Police were still trying to piece together his movements during more than seven hours from leaving The Loveshack nightspot shortly after midnight, until he was found by a passer-by lying comatose in the rain at the foot of a flight of concrete steps off Grape Lane, near to the Elm Tree pub, Crossgate, Durham, at 7.20am on Wednesday.

The 20-year-old undergraduate in his third year at St John’s College was taken to the University Hospital of North Durham, before being transferred to Newcastle General Hospital.

Det Insp Brad Howe, leading the investigation, said house-to-house inquiries in the area had uncovered a number of leads which were being followed up.

Peter was observed on the city centre closed- circuit television network walking alone across Milburngate Bridge after leaving The Loveshack, before going out of sight of the cameras at 12.06am, heading towards the roundabout at the top of North Road.

Police want to establish whether he visited anybody after disappearing from the camera’s view.

He was found about 30 metres from the student house he rents in Allergate.

His parents travelled from their family home in Surrey to be at his hospital bedside.

Det Insp Howe said police had no reason to think Peter was the victim of a crime, but they were keeping “an open mind”. He added: “We are trying to establish his movements between midnight and 7.30am on Wednesday.

“I would urge anyone who might have seen him between those times to contact us.”

Peter is described as 6ft and slim, with dark wavy hair.

On Tuesday night, he was wearing a distinctive blue and white hooped short-sleeve shirt, with a rugby-type collar.

Staff and students at St John’s College held a service to pray for his recovery.

A spokeswoman said: “The university is working with police to establish what happened to Peter and is appealing to students to come forward with any information.”

She added that university staff have been in regular contact with his family to offer support.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Durham CID on 0845 60 60 365.