BATTERED STABBED AND ROBBED
»Army veteran attacked in his own flat by two men »Cancer sufferer James, 75, had been at the bingo
A FRAIL Army veteran suffered horrific injuries when he was battered, stabbed and robbed in his own home after a night at the bingo.
Cancer sufferer James Clunes, 75, was viciously beaten by two men.
He suffered a broken nose, fractured cheekbone and a stab wound to his leg.
A FRAIL pensioner was left with appalling injuries after he was battered, stabbed and robbed in his own home.
Army veteran James Clunes arrived back from a night at the bingo when two men forced their way into his flat and subjected him to a savage beating. The 75-year-old former Scots Guardsman suffered a broken nose, a fractured cheekbone and a stab wound to the leg before being rushed to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. One man has since appeared in court in connection with the attack while police are still hunting for the second attacker. James, a former colour sergeant who served in the Scots Guards for 30 years, has spent more than a decade battling tongue, mouth and throat cancer and had just returned from a five-day stint in hospital the night before the attack. His brother Stephen Clunes told the Daily Record James is now terrified to return to his home and that what happened has had a major physical and mental impact on him.
Stephen, 61, said: “James is very sore and extremely bruised. Emotionally, he’s in a difficult place.
“He is putting a brave face on and playing it down, but I know my brother and he’ll take a big hit from this.
“It will have a big effect on him and it’s still very raw in his mind.
“He normally would’ve been at the Forces Parade on Saturday morning but he chose not to go.
“But when he felt a bit better in the evening, he jumped on the bus to the local social club to play some bingo then took the bus home at night. When he got home, he was attacked.”
James, who has allowed the Record to publish pictures of his horrific injuries, said the men appeared outside his block of flats on Saturday night. They then entered the building before following him into the lift.
When he tried to go into his flat, they burst through his door and severely beat him before he was stabbed. They made off with some of his possessions and a sum of money.
Stephen said his brother is still too traumatised to fully discuss the attack and feels unable to return to his home. He added: “We’ve not fully discussed what’s happened yet. It’s difficult for him to speak about things at the best of times.
“But he is too scared to go home and won’t go back for the foreseeable future. We’re just focusing on trying to get him out of discomfort and pain. “The first thing on my mind is trying to get him into a bit of normality and getting his strength up again.”
James’s voice box is damaged due to years of chemotherapy and radiotherapy and he struggles to talk, can’t swallow and has breathing difficulties. He is only able to eat and drink through a tube in his stomach, known as a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.
Stephen added: “He’s been through three different cancers over the last 15-odd years, which has taken a toll on his body. “He’s a very frail person.” In a bid to help James, locals launched a fundraiser for the Aberdeen FC supporter, which has brought in more than £3000.
Stephen added: “He’s very touched by the response. He doesn’t like a fuss being made but he really is very overwhelmed by the support.”
A 28-year-old man charged in connection with the alleged assault appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Monday. He made no plea, was committed for further examination and released on bail to reappear in court on a date to be confirmed.
Police Scotland said: “A 28-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with an assault and robbery on a 75-year-old man in Bayview Court, Aberdeen, on Saturday, June 25, 2022.
“The elderly man was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and later released.
“Inquiries are ongoing.”
I know my brother and he’ll take a big hit from this STEPHEN CLUNES ON JAMES’S ORDEAL