Battered, robbed and left in a pool of blood
For £20 Sister’s shock after thug assaults brother at shops
Jon Hebditch A vulnerable man was left bloodied and bruised after he was battered in an unprovoked attack for £20 and his bank card.
Paul Smith, who has learning difficulties, had his head slammed into a wall by a cowardly thug outside a Co- op in Kirkcaldy on Friday.
Brave Paul had tried to fight off his attacker by hitting him with his rucksack but the man escaped stealing £20 and his bank card.
The creamery worker was left with deep cuts around his eye and head after the assault.
He stumbled a short distance to the house which has been his home for 40 years and where he now lives with his niece, her partner and baby.
Paul, 53, said: “My eyes are a bit swollen and my head is sore. I was coming back from the Co- op when he shoved me and I hit the ground. I hit him with my bag but he got away. I’m shaken up.”
His sister Viv Fortune branded the attack “sick”.
She said: “It is just terrible for him. I was so angry when I saw how hur t he was and just wondered what sort of person could do that.
“Paul was 150 yards away from
his own front door, we have lived here since 1980, grew up here and nothing l ike this has ever happened and that’s why it is so shocking.
“He lives with my daughter Rebecca and her partner who have now had a baby so it is a family home and somewhere he should feel safe and secure.
“He has lacerations on his scalp, bumps under his hair and his eye is obviously very bruised.
“I’m worried about him in the long term too and if this could affect his confidence.
“He likes going out, he has some work pals he sees and sometimes likes to take the bus out to Glasgow to see the
football. People are just shocked this could happen to him. It’s just not fair.”
Viv added: “It was surprising Paul hit him with the bag. He is such a gentle giant with not a bad bone in him.
“Paul can’t really remember all that happened because it was so quick. But there was a big bloody print on the wall where his head must have hit when he was shoved.
“It is a shame there was nothing heavy in his backpack to give the guy a whack.
“It is just sick that someone attacked him.
“It isn’t even about the money, I just want Paul to feel safe as he
goes about his life.” It is understood the brazen en thug used Paul’s bank card at several local shopsps before the family had time to contact the bank.
But since the incident, the local community has rallied round to support Paul, with well-wishers coming round and pals phoning him up.
Viv said: “There are a lot of good people in Kirkcaldy who see him about and say ‘ hi’.
“He likes to keep himself to himself usually but it has just been great to have people checking up on him.
“The police have just been fantast ic. I ’ ve got a lot of confidence in them and can’t thank them enough for all their help.”
A police spokeswoman said: “We received a report of a 53-yearold man who was robbed in Kirkcaldy on Friday.
“The incident is believed to have happened in the Fair Isle Road and Lismore Lane area between 9.15pm and 10pm.
“The ambulance service attended and the victim was treated for facial injuries. It’s believed his wallet was stolen.
“Anyone with information about this incident should contact us.”
It’s terrible for him. I was so angry when I saw how hurt he was