Cops hunt for callous duowhomuggedIan
Crime Reporter DETECTIVES are today hunting for two heartless thugs who battered a deaf pensioner black and blue - to steal his brand-new winter coat.
The Evening Times reported yesterday in our home delivery edition that 74-year-old Ian McGregor was pulled to the ground and set upon by the two thugs, who crept up behind him as he made his way home from a shopping trip.
The attack happened at around 6.40pm on Tuesday in the Springburn area.
Officers do not have a description of the mugging duo but they are hopeful someone might have seen the attack, which happened at the junction of Valleyfield Street and Flemington Street.
Detective Constable Scott Spinks, of the Community Investigation Unit based at Helen Street Police Office, is one of the officers tasked with finding the pair.
His team have already taken swabs of DNA from Mr McGregor for evidence and they are also scouring CCTV images in the area.
He said: “This was a sickening attack on this elderly man who bravely tried to fight off these two men, and has been left badly injured. He was simply making his way home after doing some shopping.”
Grandfather Ian had spent Tuesday afternoon in Glasgow city centre shopping.
He visited independent menswear store Blitz to purchase the winter jacket and then went to John Lewis for ink cartridges.
Armed with his bags, he then visited the William Hill bookmakers in Springburn and, as he walked home, the two robbers struck.
The pair, who also stole a two figure sum of cash, made off in the direction of Atlas Road after the robbery.
His heartbroken daughter Chrissandra Martin, 48, told the Evening Times yesterday: “My dad said they came from behind. He is deaf and wears hearing aids.
“He fell to the ground during the attack and he told them to just take the jacket, but they continued to do what they were doing.”
She added: “It is a cruel world we live in just now. He is an old man, just take the jacket, what could he do? He could not run after them or anything.”
Ian, who has four daughters and five grandchildren, was taken to Glasgow’s Royal Infirmary following the attack. His face was left badly bruised and he has cuts to the back of his head. His daughter also explained that her dad’s body is also aching from the attack.
Chrissandra said: “You never see my dad upset, so for a man to sit and cry in front of you, it is not right.”
The family believe the sto- len jacket may be sold on and urged people to be wary of being offered the item.
After the Evening Times published the story, a reader contacted us to offer his leather jacket which is unused. It was this reaction from the community that has helped Mr McGregor and his family deal with the attack.
Chrissandra said: “The way people have rallied around and the messages I have got is unbelievable.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Community Investigation Unit at Govan through 101 quoting incident number 3184.