War veteran battered and bruised by yobs as he told them not to throw berries at his home
AN 81-YEAR-OLD war veteran was left battered and bruised after being attacked by nine yobs he asked to stop throwing berries at his window.
Barney Alcock, who spent three years in a prisoner of war camp during the Korean war, was punched and kicked by the gang after he asked them to move on from outside his home in Grimsby, Lincolnshire.
Mr Alcock's wife, Thelma, said her husband's dementia means he has no recollection of the attack and is left wondering why he is such pain.
She said: "He kept asking why he was covered in blood - he had completely forgotten what had happened.
"We have lived here years and have never had any bother.
"He is in so much agony and keeps touching his head, asking why it hurts. He hasn't eaten or drunk anything since it happened.
"It has really affected him deep inside.
"They left such a mess outside - and they broke his new glasses, which has cost us £83 to replace."
Mrs Alcock initially tried to remonstrate with the yobs, but was faced with a tirade of abuse.
She said: "The boys left at first and my husband stood at the gate for ten minutes.
"But they returned. He crossed the road to ask them to leave as I watched from the front window and called the police.
"I turned back from the phone to see Barney laying on the ground covered in blood and the boys running away."
Mr Alcock was taken to hospital and treated for a cut to his eye, bruising to both eyes and bruising to his nose.
The harrowing attack has resonated through the estate - where the couple have lived for years and become well-respected residents.
Their daughter-in-law, Victoria Alcock, said: ""You don't go round picking on 81-year-olds. The whole estate is disgusted at what has happened.
"Barney loves kids and is always a friendly and happy person. Everyone knows them. He often stands at the gate talking to strangers as they walk by.
"We had one parent march her son to the house to check if he had been involved, but he hadn't."
A spokesperson for Humberside Police said: "A 14-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the incident and has since been released on bail."