OUTRAGE AFTER MAN AGED 93 IS MUGGED OUTSIDE HOME FOR JUST £ 5
A FRAIL 93- year- old former cameraman who worked with film legends Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Attenborough was mugged and sent crashing to the ground for just £ 5.
A 6ft thug pounced as defenceless Stanley Evans let himself into the communal area of the block of flats where he lives in Soho, central London.
Shocked police yesterday released harrowing CCTV images of the brutal attack which they described as “unprovoked, callous and sickening”.
Mr Evans, who was left lying helpless on the floor for 10 minutes before he managed to struggle to his feet and raise the alarm, suffered shock and a shoulder injury.
But yesterday he said: “It doesn’t scare me. I’m not going to hide away in my flat because of this man.”
Mr Evans, a keen amateur boxer and rugby player as a young man, added: “I’ve gone past anger, I’m frustrated. If I ever came across that one again ... I was a boxer and aggressive. If someone punches me I punch them back. I go right in and enjoy a challenge.”
The attack happened just three days after he had been rushed to hospital with heart trouble and he believes he may even have taken pity on the robber in the past and given him some money.
“I vaguely recognised him as someone I had gave £ 10 to last year,” said Mr Evans. “I’m quite friendly with people in the area. I think he was just someone who asked me to help him out.
“He was sitting on the wall as I started fiddling with my key. Then suddenly whoosh, he came straight at me. He grabbed my wallet, pushed me over and I fell on my side and he ran out.
“When you fall over at my age every bit of your body hits the ground. I was flailing like a seal. It’s almost impossible to pick yourself up.
“I waited 10 minutes for someone to come but nobody did. Then I managed to struggle to my feet and go to my flat to call the police.”
Mr Evans, originally from Cardigan, West Wales, was an assistant cameraman working on the classic 1947 film adaptation of Graham Green’s Brighton Rock, star- ring Richard Attenborough. He also had a long association with director Nicholas Roeg, working with him on the hit movies Don’t Look Now and Walkabout.
After the MGM Studios in Borehamwood, Herts, closed during the 1970s, he set up as a freelance photographer in Soho and specialised in studio pictures of celebrities.
His work featured portraits of Liz Taylor and British movie goddess Diana Dors.
Det Sgt Gemma Alger said yesterday: “This was a totally unprovoked, callous and sickening assault on a defenceless pensioner.”
The suspect is described as a slim black male, aged between 20 and 30, and 5ft 10in to 6ft. He was wearing casual dark clothing.
Anyone with information is urged to ring Westminster Serious Crime Unit on 020 7321 7513 or 101.
Alternatively, callers who wish to remain anonymous can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.