Wheelchair man robbed

Apr 5 2008 by Paul Loraine, The Journal

AN arthritis sufferer who is confined to a wheelchair was attacked on his doorstep and forced to hand over all the money in his house yesterday.

The 53-year-old, who lives by himself off Wallsend High Street in Wallsend, North Tyneside, was repeatedly hit on the head before his attacker went inside his house and forced the disabled man to open his safe. Having taken his money, the attacker also demanded his bank details and pin number before running away.

The robbery happened between 12.45pm and 1pm on Thursday. Speaking yesterday, the man, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: “I was just outside my house and he came up from behind and hit me over the head. When I turned around, he just kept hitting me. I didn’t really have any time to be scared, he just kept hitting me and I was going in and out of consciousness.”

The man suffered a black eye as well as cuts and bruises, although did not require hospital treatment.

“He went into my house and stole all my money – well over £100,” he said. “I had to open the safe for him and he asked for my pin number and bank book. He ran away when he had got what he wanted. I just felt shocked and obviously very sore.”

The man had been shopping and said he thought his attacker had targeted him, following him home.

“It’s absolutely disgusting that someone could do this,” he added.

Police described the attacker as white, aged 18-19, 5ft 6in with a local accent and short fair or ginger hair. He was wearing a beige top.

Det Const Jayne Ellis said: “We do want to stress that this is an isolated incident and reassure the public that such crimes are rare.”

Contact police on 0345 604-3043, extension 63361.