A SHOP manager who was stabbed in the neck during a robbery has slammed police, accusing them of failing to take the case seriously enough.

Sarva Harman Mahindarajah was stabbed on Saturday when a robber entered Costcutter in Bridge Street, High Wycombe, and stole £200.

On Tuesday he believed he saw his alleged attacker in town and called police. He claims they turned up 15 minutes later when the suspect had gone.

He also says police did not make inquiries along the road where a suspect was thought to have been seen. And it took a second call by Mr Mahindarajah to lead to an arrest.

However, police say they have not received a complaint.

Mr Mahindarajah also claims:

Police failed to mention he was stabbed, or even assaulted in a media appeal;

Police failed to carry out a photo ID with him to help catch a suspect.

Mr Mahindarajah, 33, says he was told by doctors that he was lucky to be alive and if his throat had been cut by an extra half-an-inch he could be dead.

Following the raid, which has left Mr Mahindarajah too frightened to return to work, police released a statement only saying a man had "threatened" a member of staff.

He said: "I think they are not taking it seriously."

The incident, which was recorded on the shop's CCTV, was passed to police and shown to the Free Press.

Investigating officer Det ective Constable Darren Jones said: "Obviously we have been taking this investigation seriously, and have been in close contact with Mr Mahindarajah throughout.

"We do have to follow strict protocols and procedure when investigating this type of incident. We can only issue statements to the press once details have been confirmed with the aggrieved."

He said inquiries have been ongoing and no concerns have been raised with police.

A 22-year-old man has been charged with robbery. He was due to appear at Wycombe Magistrates Court last Thursday.