Hunt for Dr William Benson’s attackers moves to Facebook

Jul 10 2009 by Neil McKay, The Journal

DETECTIVES hunting the brutal attackers of a frail, retired doctor have been boosted by the social networking site Facebook.

More than 1,000 people, outraged at the attack on Dr William Benson in County Durham, have signed up to a social networking site to register their support for the 92-year-old.

Scores of comments condemning the people who carried out the brutal assault on Dr William Benson have been logged.

Det Insp Geoff Smith, who is leading the hunt for the three men responsible, said the Facebook site demonstrates the strength of feeling not only in the local community but throughout the region and beyond.

He had been left disappointed that an appeal on television’s Crimewatch had been switched at the last minute to BBC2 last week because of Wimbledon.

But he said last night: “The support site was set up by a woman in the North East who saw the recent Crimewatch reconstruction and was appalled at what had taken place.

“Around 100 people a day are now registering on it and we would encourage more to join.”

The site features details of the attack on Dr Benson, who suffered severe injuries when the gang broke into his isolated home near Stanley just before midnight on October 17 last year; and photographs of the injuries he suffered.