Korean war veteran attacked by berry-throwing yobs in Grimsby

Thelma Alcock said her husband Barney, who suffers from dementia, went out of their house to talk to some boys who had been throwing berries at their windows.

But the pensioner, who spent years in a prisoner-of-war camp during the Korean War, was attacked and left on the pavement, suffering from cuts and bruises to his face.

The incident happened across from the couple’s home in Redbourne Road, Grimsby, a week ago.

Mrs Alcock said around eight or nine boys had been throwing the berries when her husband went out to talk to them.

She said: “He crossed to Winchester Avenue to ask them to leave as I watched from the front window and called the police.

“I turned back from the phone to see Barney laying on the ground, covered in blood, and the boys running away.”

Mrs Alcock said her husband’s glasses were broken in the attack.

Their daughter-in-law, Victoria Alcock, said: “We are very upset and fuming at what they have done to him.”

Humberside Police said officers were appealing for witnesses.

A spokesman said: “A number of people were seen to have been throwing a number of items at the window of an address.

“The resident of the property, an elderly man, went outside and asked the individuals to stop. An altercation has then taken place and the man was assaulted, causing him to fall to the floor.

“The elderly man was taken to Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital and treated for a cut to his eye, bruising to both eyes and bruising to his nose.”

He said a 14-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the incident and released on bail pending further investigations.