Police defend command, comment on brutal stabbing at The Ponds

Police insist The Ponds park where a man was stabbed while asking for youths to be quiet on Saturday night was not a troubled spot despite social media criticism over their response times and patrols.

Married father-of-one David Sidhom was stabbed multiple times on Saturday night.

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Police insist The Ponds park where a man was stabbed while asking youths to be quiet on Saturday night was not a troubled spot despite social media criticism over their response times and patrols.

David Sidhom, 29, was stabbed in the neck three times after he approached the teenagers at Ridgeline Park, across the road from his home, about 9pm.

The father to a two-year-old son underwent surgery for the puncture and was released from Westmead Hospital early today.

At least one member of the group stabbed Mr Sidhom three times in the neck from behind. It narrowly missed his spine and windpipe, plunging close to 15cm into his neck.

David Sidhom was stabbed three times to the neck.

“He was a lucky, lucky man,’’ Inspector Detective Chief Inspector Brett Guyatt said.

“Police are doing lots of canvassing and reviewing CCTV and dashcam stuff they’ve got.

“They’ve also got statements of witnesses who have knowledge of players involved.

“The inquiries are continuing fairly productively.”

On social media, readers criticised Quakers Hill police for not responding to complaints promptly.

Riverstone police station is the home of Quakers Hill police area command.

Adam Mercer said: “Being a resident of The Ponds and having had dealt with Quakers Hill/Riverstone police on numerous occasions before concerning noise complaints, and other issues, this is not surprising.

“The real story here is that when contacted, Quakers Hill/Riverstone police do nothing about noise complaints or other issues in the local area.”

Mitch Newman said: “I think the problem here is that they are not moved on quick enough and there need to be regular patrols by police to get rid of people loitering in parks of a night.

Ridgeline Park at The Ponds is across the road from Mr Sidhom’s home.

“It happens in our estate Greenway at Colebee all the grubs hang around the park and get moved on by security to which we are lucky to have quite frankly. Hope the victim is OK.”

But Insp Guyatt played down “chatter” on social media.

“It’s not a place where we’re aware there’s lots of problems,” he said.

“We’ve had very few rows reported to us over a period of time.

“It’s a place you don’t get told about and we encourage people to let us know.”

New Quakers Hill commander Jenny Scholz said last month one of the challenges of the command was its rapid growth.

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Insp Guyatt said the command covered a large area.

“This place is growing … and the staffing levels haven’t increased …,’’ Insp Guyatt said.

“The command is a large mass area and difficult to get there (respond to incidents).”

Blacktown councillor Chris Quilkey downplayed the crime as a one-off incident.

“My understanding is that The Ponds and Ridgeline Park is no different to any other park or suburb in the area,’’ he said.

“I think it would be an isolated incident.”

Cr Quilty said he would discuss the matter with Quakers Hill police.