Masked intruder bashes pensioner in his home

An elderly man has seven staples and four stitches in his head after a masked intruder bashed him with a sharp object.

The 70-year-old’s dog started barkingat about 7pm on Sunday.

Thinking there was a cat outside his Bamford St, Christchurch home, the man went to open the door to let his dog out.

‘‘I was almost there and the door opened and this guy just come in, grabbed me by the bloody scruff of the neck and started whacking the s… out of me with something in his hand,’’ the man, who asked not to be named, said. The victim, who lost his partner to a lung disease about a month ago, said he all he could think was how he was going to get himself ‘‘out of this bloody mess’’.

‘‘I ended up crashing on the floor and I lashed out with my feet. Whether I connected with him I don’t know, but he went out the door.’’

Kokee, his bichon frise, chased the masked intruder to a fence near the front of the property. There, the man got away.

Yesterday, he was a bit jaded. ‘‘I’ve got a wee bit of a headache, I can’t touch it it’s that f…… sore, I can’t even wash my bloody hair. But other than that I’m alright. It was . . . scary alright and I’ve got tonight to face yet.’’

The victim did not know why he was targeted. and said the offender was covered, with only his eyes visible.

Detective Sergeant Brad Grainger said police were investigating. Anyone with information should contact Christchurch police on (03) 363 7400 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.