Disabled man targeted by gang

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A MAN suffering with a neurological condition was assaulted by a group of men who targeted him because of his disability.

The victim, aged in his 40s, was walking to the Co-Op store towards Gresham Road when the attack happened at about 7.50pm on Wednesday, May 23.

As he walked along the footpath that runs by the Green Centre he passed a group of men sitting on a bench and drinking who made abusive remarks about him.

When he turned and asked them what they said, one of the group got up and squared up to him. A second also approached him and threw an open can of alcohol at his head, spilling the contents over him.

This man is described as white, in his late teens or early 20s, around 5ft 11ins tall, with short blond hair and he was wiry but well built. He was wearing light-coloured tracksuit bottoms and was topless at the time, exposing a black tribal tattoo on his chest.

The first man was also white, in his mid-20s, a similar height and had blond cropped hair. He was wearing a white t-shirt and had a tribal tattoo on his upper right arm.

PC Laura Tansell, who is investigating the attack, said: "While the victim of this assault was not injured, he has been left very upset by this disturbing incident. This was a cruel and unprovoked attack on a man simply because of his disability.

"West Mercia Police does not tolerate hate crimes and we appeal for any members of the public who may have information about who the offenders were to contact us. Do you recognise the description of those involved or are you aware of a group of young men hanging around and drinking outside the community centre during the recent hot weather?"

PC Tansell can be contacted via the non-emergency police number 101 or information can be passed on anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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