Attacked war veteran 'may never walk again'

Sep 5 2007

An 83-year-old war veteran might never walk again after being pushed into a canal by a gang of youths in Merseyside, police have said.

The pensioner was fishing with his nephew in St Helens when they were both pushed into the Leeds-Liverpool canal.

Detectives have released CCTV pictures of three youths thought to be responsible for the incident, which is being treated as a wounding offence.

The victim, named by police only as Brian, remains in hospital with two broken legs.

Police say he might never regain his ability to walk.

His 41-year-old nephew was uninjured in the incident, which happened at 4pm on July 13.

The victim’s wife, who asked only to be named as Margery, said: “It is an absolute disgrace what has happened and the people responsible should have their names published in the paper when they are caught, so that people know who they are and what they did.

“It was so cowardly what they did.”

The victim, who has been married for 59 years, is a father of two sons and grandfather of six.

After serving as a signaller in the Royal Navy during the Second World War, he became a prison officer, retiring at 60 in 1984.