Reward offered to help find attackers of Stanley doctor

Jul 7 2009 By Matt McKenzie

A £5,000 reward has been offered to help find the attackers who beat up a frail retired doctor in his own home in County Durham.

The brutal assault inflicted on 92-year-old Dr William Benson on the outskirts of Stanley was recently featured on BBC’s Crimewatch programme.

He suffered severe injuries after three men broke into his property just before midnight on October 17 last year.

Following the programme a number of ``significant" calls were made to the man leading the investigation, Det Insp Geoff Smith.

Now Crimestoppers are offering a reward of up to £5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person or persons linked to the incident.

Det Insp Smith said: ``This is a case that has outraged people throughout the country.

``The publicity generated by Crimewatch and the subsequent articles printed, broadcast and televised by our local media have again pushed this terrible case into the forefront of people’s minds."