Outrage as wheelchair-bound man, 75, is robbed in street

8:51am Wednesday 17th October 2001

A disability group has condemned the mugging of a 75-year-old man in a wheelchair last week in Thornton Heath.

Mark Peter from the Disability Forum in Croydon, himself a victim of three similar assaults, expressed his dismay at the incident in Brigstock Road on October 12.

He said: “It's absolutely disgusting that people are getting away with such attacks.”

He added: “It's a serious situation as those involved will become afraid of leaving their own homes.”

At about 5pm on October 12, the victim, who has an artificial leg, had just come out of The Telegraph pub on Brigstock Road with his god-son when three men followed him.

They were followed by the men who stopped to ask the victim the time, then shook his wheelchair and snatched the money from his top pocket.

The godson tried to intervene but the men ran down Brigstock Road and through Gillett Road.

Police described the first suspect as being a black male around 15 years of age and 5ft 5ins tall and with pleated hair. He was wearing a yellow shirt and with a London accent.

The second suspect is described as a black male around 5ft 7ins and with pleated hair, with a London accent and wearing a red Arsenal top with bold white writing on the back.

The third is a black male around 5ft 6ins and wearing a black hooded top. Information to 020 8768 1212.

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