A FRESHER was fighting for his life last night after he was stabbed in Cowley Road – just six days after another knife attack in the street.

The 20-year-old was stabbed during an argument outside the Hobgoblin pub shortly after 4am yesterday. He is now in a critical but stable condition at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital.

The victim was walking near the pub when a man pulled up in a car. They became involved in a row and the first-year student was stabbed in the torso. He managed to walk along the street to the corner of Bullingdon Road and Cowley Road and into a house in Crown Street where an ambulance was called. It is not yet clear if the attack was drugs related.

A week ago today a 31-year-old man was slashed across the face in public toilets less than 100 yards away. Police are appealing for witnesses to yesterday’s incident as they believe a lot of people would have still been in the area following the Fuzzy Ducks student night at the O2 Academy.

Det Insp Simon Morton, of Oxford CID, said Cowley Road remained safe, and high isibility patrols would be increased.

He told the Oxford Mail: “We believe these are isolated incidents where the the victim knows the offender. There is reason behind it. They are not random.”

Yesterday morning, a large section of the street was cordoned off by crime scene investigators, blocking the entrance to shops including Tesco and Boots.

Neighbours who had learned about the attack said it left them fearing for their safety.

Tracy Hickman, 45, of James Street, said: “It’s quite frightening really. There’s too much of it going on. It’s practically on my doorstep, I’m getting afraid to go out at all.”

And Cristal Page, a 23-year-old mum-of-two from East Avenue said: “It’s mad. It’s scary coming down here with my little ones. God knows what they’ll see.”

Last night, neighbourhood team police officers were in Cowley Road reassuring members of the public and community leaders.

Mr Morton said: “Oxford as a city, including Cowley Road, is still a very safe place.

“Compared with some other similar cities, violent crime is low.”

He added: “Excessive drink and the night-time economy is always a tinderbox for violence. That is why we police it in the manner we do.

“But I’m not sure at this stage if this incident is anything to do with that culture.”

City councillor Nuala Young said knife crime and late-night drinking in East Oxford now had to be re-examined. She said: “It’s worrying this danger has spread so far down Cowley Road. We now have to consider squeezing this night-time economy and bring closing times back to midnight, so we don’t have these sort of incidents in Cowley Road.”

A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with Thursday’s attack. He was still in police custody last night.

Calvin John Souch, 38, of Cowley, appeared at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, criminal damage and possession of cannabis over the stabbing at the toilets incident.

Anyone with information should call Oxford CID on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.