Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I’m lost for words at man’s inhumanity to man..
Son’s shock as thugs batter dad
servant said: “I had a call to say the garage door was open and the fence had been knocked down. I dashed around and found the house in a mess and my father on the bedroom floor.
“He was semi-conscious. The house was very cold, he was in amongst quite a lot of turmoil.
“He couldn’t communicate, he had bruising on his arms and face.
“I called an ambulance and luckily they were there very, very quickly.”
Peter rose to the rank of corporal during the war and was Mentioned in Despatches for his bravery while
the Randlesdown Road area in Bellingham on the night of his murder.”
In a separate investigation, a 17-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of Malcolm Mide-madariola, 17, who was knifed near Clapham South tube station on Friday.
The accused, who cannot be named, appeared at Bromley magistrates and will appear at the Old Bailey tomorrow.
Two other teenagers have been arrested in connection with college fighting in Italy in August 1944. He was recognised for “gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy” and awarded the Italy Star and the 1939-45 Star medals.
Peter became a Post Office telephone engineer after the war. He has lived in the house for 60 years and retired 38 years ago.
His wife of 65 years, Joan, died in January 2013. The couple also had a daughter, Jane, who yesterday had travelled from Yorkshire to be at her dad’s bedside. Her husband David
Chapstick, 61, said from the family home in Huddersfield: “It is absolutely horrendous. We hope he gets better.”
Pio Gomes, 78, who lives nearby, said Peter was rarely seen outside since Joan’s death.
He added: “After that he wouldn’t come out much, I used to take his bins out for him because he wasn’t steady.”
Though the pointless raid could have taken place during a 20-hour window starting at 2pm on Monday, detectives believe it was most likely to have been
carried out under cover of darkness during Bonfire Night.
Met Det Insp Paul Ridley said it appeared that two people broke in and added: “This was a brutal and senseless attack on a vulnerable pensioner in his own home.
“He was left helpless and seriously injured at the address all alone.
“The level of violence was completely excessive. From his injuries we believe that he was dragged through the house.
“It was only due to a member of the public noticing damage to the property that the alarm was raised. If this member of the public had not intervened then it’s almost certain Mr Gouldstone would have succumbed to his injuries.”
A spokesman for the RBL said: “The Royal British Legion is shocked and saddened to hear that Second World War veteran Peter Gouldstone has been attacked.
“We extend every sympathy to Mr Gouldstone and his family.”