Burglar breaks leg of pensioner, 81, in despicable attack

The 81-year-old victim was at home in Oulton, near Leeds, when he was confronted by a masked intruder who had entered through a door left ajar in the warm weather.

During a struggle which followed, the brave victim managed to pull a mask from the burglar’s face.

But the suspect then used an unknown “blunt weapon” to attack the pensioner, who was knocked to the floor and left with a broken leg.

The attacker escaped with cash.

Detectives are now appealing for information.

Acting Detective Inspector Grant Stead, from Holbeck CID, described the attack as “despicable”.

He said: “This was an appalling attack on an elderly man who has been left with significant injuries requiring surgery.

“Incidents such as these remain fortunately rare in the area and I know local people will feel as disgusted as I do by this despicable attack.

“I would ask those locals to cast their mind back to Friday morning and get in touch if they saw anyone or any vehicles in the area that seemed unusual or out of place.”

Police said the incident happened at around 7am on Friday on Wordsworth Drive, Oulton.

The suspect entered the semi-detached property through the kitchen door which had been left ajar for some fresh air.

Police said the victim remained in a stable condition in hospital and was expected to undergo surgery over the weekend.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “Following a struggle in which the victim managed to remove the suspect’s face mask he was assaulted with what police believe was a blunt object before being knocked to the floor.

“The suspect left the property with an amount of cash,”

Police described the suspect as a white man, in his mid thirties, slightly built, with a tanned complexion and with short fair hair.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Acting Detective Inspector Grant Stead at Holbeck CID via 0845 60 60 606.

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