A UK city riddled with crime has more villains than the "home of the Mafia" after a spate of deadly knife attacks, figures show.

       As local cops spend time scouring for weapons in wooded areas, the reputation of the city is on the decline.

       3

       Coventry has been ranked higher for crime levels than Naples - home of the Mafia Credit: Google Maps 3

       David-Mario Lazar was tragically stabbed to death by his grandma 3

       Haji Choudhary Rab Nawaz was leaving his brother's funeral when he was killed by five thugs Credit: BPM

       Coventry, in the West Midlands, has seen a rise in the number of deaths caused by savage stabbings in recent years.

       Located just outside of Birmingham, it was last year the second worst in Europe for its crime levels, research found.

       And in 2023 it's ranked higher than Naples in Italy - the home of the Mafia.

       Figures, produced by statisticians Numbeo, take the last three years into account with one victim being as young as five.

       READ MORE ON UK NEWS

       DEATH RIDDLE Homes evacuated after man dies in ‘incident’ as cops & fire crews probe scene

       TRAGIC TEEN Everything we know about the tragic disappearance and death of Gaia Pope

       In January last year, David-Mario Lazar was killed by his grandma Elena Anghel, 51, on a street in Coventry outside his home.

       The five-year-old suffered a total of 29 sharp force injuries - including wounds to his head, chest, back and hand.

       David-Mario was tragically found in a pool of blood by cops while his parents were at work.

       Anghel has since been given a hospital order after she admitted manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.

       Most read in The Sun

       KILLED BY BIG BRO Teen girl's evil brother GUILTY of her murder after vile sex attack

       HORROR CRASH Greek firefighting plane crashes after clipping tree while dousing wildfire

       BLINKING LOVELY Big Brother legend Helen unrecognisable 22 years after quitting fame

       'TERRIBLE IDEA' EasyJet pilot warns tourists to GET OFF his holiday flight to Rhodes

       In October of that same year, Haji Choudhary Rab Nawaz, 52, was leaving his brother's funeral when he was killed by five thugs.

       The "much-loved" dad was brutally attacked outside a mosque in the city following an ongoing feud between two families.

       He suffered stab wounds to his chest before dying shortly after in hospital.

       All five killers were recently convicted over the death.

       Most recently in April, Shou Zou, 22, was fatally knifed in the city centre during the early hours of the morning.

       West Midlands Police launched a murder investigation as forensics combed the scene.

       Another man, aged 20, was also stabbed in the horror. He suffered shoulder and hand injuries.

       Penqui Sun, 23, from the area, has since been charged.

       Knife attacks are on the up in the small city with a 14-year-old girl previously suffered stab wounds when she was chased by a gang.

       Around 15 members pursued the teen before plunging scissors into her neck in the Wyken area.

       She luckily survived the attack after being rushed to hospital.

       It happened just a street away from where a 27-year-old was killed in 2018.

       Daniel Kennell succumbed to his injuries from a single stab wound to the chest.

       His killer Ryan Preston, 27, was jailed for life.

       Read More on The Sun

       SNACK ATTACK Mum shares her quick summer snack idea but parents warn it’s so dangerous

       LOVE YOURSELF Woman who is always skinny-shamed says strangers whisper about her appearance

       More than 7,000 knife crime incidents were reported in the county in 2022 alone - the highest outside of London.