Gang thrust walking aid into mouth of victim

A GANG of ‘cowardly’ thugs attacked and robbed a disabled man by forcing his walking stick into his mouth to stop him shouting for help.

The man, believed to be in his 50s, was punched and kicked in the head and robbed of jewellery during the ‘vicious’ attack in Chadderton, Oldham.

The terrifying ordeal left him with a fractured eye socket, a broken jaw, a bleed on the brain and seven broken fingers.

Police have launched an appeal to catch those responsible for the attack, which happened at around 7.45pm on Friday, March 15.

The victim left the Dog Inn on Lansdowne Road before crossing the road to walk along the pedestrian path leading to Whitstable Close.

He was then approached by two or three men, who attacked him before stealing bracelets as he lay on the ground.

During the robbery, the man was punched in the face.

The attackers then kicked him in the face and held his walking stick in his mouth to stop him screaming.

The man was admitted to hospital and is now recovering from his injuries at home. He will still require surgery, police said.

He was not able to give police descriptions of his attackers.

Constable Kavita Young said: “This was a vicious and cowardly attack on a man who uses a walking stick for mobility.

“The levels of injury sustained by the victim are serious.

“They have had a detrimental effect on his mental and physical wellbeing, and he will require surgery on his hands and face at a later date.

“Unfortunately, we have no description of the offenders at this time.

“However, this happened in the early evening in a relatively built-up area where we think there will be a number of potential witnesses.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 9082, quoting incident number 1918 of March 15. Reports can also be made via Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.