Pensioner beaten and robbed outside own home in Sheffield

Police are appealing for witnesses after an 84-year-old man was beaten and robbed outside his own home in Sheffield.

Published 15th Mar 2016

Police are appealing for witnesses after an 84-year-old man was beaten and robbed outside his own home in Sheffield.

It happened at around 1pm on Monday 14 March when the victim was making his way towards his house - in a street off Castlebeck Avenue - when two men forced him to the ground.

He was beaten to the head by the men, who are described as being black and aged between 20 and 30, before they reportedly made off with cash, bank cards and jewellery from inside his home.

The victim had been to the Betfred bookmakers on Fitzalan Square, where he had won some money.

He left there at around 12.15pm and went on to pay some bills before getting on the number 24 bus in Haymarket. He got off in Castlebeck Avenue at around 1pm.

As he walked from the bus stop to his home he was attacked by two men as he reached his garden gate. The victim suffered bruising to his head and was left very shaken by the incident.

Police are currently reviewing CCTV recorded along the route taken by the man, and are also carrying out house-to-house enquiries.

Detective Inspector Jude Ashmore, who is leading the inquiry, said: “This was a cowardly attack on an elderly man in the middle of the day – we’re working very hard to find the two men responsible, and I’m confident someone will have seen something.

"Were you on the bus at the same time as the victim? Or perhaps you were a pedestrian who saw the elderly gentleman get off and walk towards his house, being followed by two men?

“If you saw something, please come forward - the smallest detail could prove vital in identifying the suspects.”

Contact South Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 479 of 14 March 2016.