Browse Sections

• Business
• Education
• Special reports

Man attacked on way home

23/11/2005

A MAN recovering from a major knee operation was attacked by two masked men and beaten with baseball bats as he walked home in Hopwood.

John McKeen, 39, was heading to his home in Ormerod Street, Hopwood, at 9.45pm on Saturday evening when two men - their faces masked by balaclavas - jumped out of bushes and began hitting him about the body.

When he collapsed to the floor, they began kicking him.

But Mr McKeen was able to stagger back to his elderly mother's home 100 yards away, with blood pouring from his nose and cut mouth.

Police escorted an ambulance as he was taken to Fairfield Hospital, but he was discharged in the early hours of Sunday after treatment for cuts and bruises.

Mr Keen, who suffers from arthritis and had a major operation on a knee at the end of August, said: "I have no idea why anybody should attack me. The whole thing is a mystery and the police say it appears to be motiveless.

"I am very sore with all the bruises, but it could have been much worse. The doctors at Fairfield said it was lucky I was wearing a thick coat and thick woollen hat. That saved me from worse damage.

"I had two mobile phones on me and money in my pocket, but nothing was taken, so why they should pick on me is a total mystery."

Both attackers were said to be small in height, but both heavily built.

Police have confirmed they are investigating the attack.