Dovercourt: Doorstep attack on pensioner, 91 (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

Dovercourt: Doorstep attack on pensioner, 91

2:59pm Monday 30th July 2007 in Search By Andrea Collitt

An elderly man has been assaulted on his doorstep, exactly a week after an almost identical incident in the same area.

The second man, a 91-year-old of Dovercourt, was left bruised, badly shaken and with a minor head injury after the attack.

The quick-thinking pensioner, who has not been named, might have been saved by a Careline panic button.

He answered his front door to a male caller, who was wearing a balaclava, at about 10.25am on Friday.

The would-be robber then demanded cash but the pensioner refused.

The attacker then pushed him, causing him to fall backwards on to the floor.

Luckily the victim was able to press a panic button on a neck pendant, linked to Tendring Council's Careline.

Nigel Brown, Tendring Council's communications manager, said: "The man pressed his pendant and came through saying that he had been attacked.

"He told staff that a man had asked for his money and then pushed him over.

"Whether it was the noise of the alarm going off or not, the attacker then fled."

The incident happened almost a week to the exact day and time that 93-year-old William Mercer, also of Dovercourt, was robbed.

He was also left bruised and shaken after the attacker made off with his holiday money, at about 10am on Friday, July 20.

• Police have appealed for anyone who might have seen anything, or seen anyone acting suspiciously in relation to both incidents to call Det Con Con John Shipley, at Harwich police, on 01255 254044 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.