Find the cowards who did this to my dad

Monday 22nd March 2010, 9:45AM GMT.

Len Sanders, 65, was attacked by young thugs in Wellington

Len Sanders, 65, was attacked by young thugs in Wellington

The family of a Shropshire great-grandfather knocked unconscious by a gang of youths who attacked him as he walked home from a night out today pleaded “help us find the cowards who did this”.

Pensioner Len Sanders, 65, had left sons Steven and Colin to make his way home in the early hours of Saturday morning after the three men had been out in Wellington. The following morning the two sons could barely recognise their father.

Steven has now launched an “Appeal for Justice” group on internet social networking site, Facebook, in a bid to track down the people responsible for the attack.

Len, from Hadley, said: “We had been out and had a good night and I was just walking home over the bridge between the art college and Ford garage.

“I perhaps should have got a taxi but it’s a route I have walked many times before.

“There was a gang of young lads hanging around on the bridge. One of them came over and asked me for a cigarette but I told him I didn’t smoke.

“I carried on walking and all I can remember is feeling a heavy blow from behind which must have either been a punch or a kick.

“It pretty much knocked me unconscious and I don’t remember much else, but from my injuries to my face I would guess they continued punching and kicking me while I was out. I don’t know how many were involved but there were around eight lads I walked past on the bridge.

“I’m in a fair bit of pain still and a bit of shock, but they won’t stop me from going out.”

Steven said already nearly 100 members had joined the Facebook group since it was set up yesterday.

He said: “It’s an appeal for justice.

“We want to send out a message that we will not back down from this type of violence and show how we can come together as a community and support our elderly folk from cowards like these lads.”

Police are currently examining possible CCTV footage for any clues of the attackers’ identities and have also issued an appeal for witnesses.

The attack happened at around 1.30am on Saturday morning.

Anyone who can help is urged to call 0300 333 3000, or alternatively Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

By Wayne Beese


  1. 1
    Claire

    Len – your injuries look so painful, im so sorry to hear about what happended to you, i hope they catch these thugs and throw away the key – what a truly dispicable thing to do, i just hope your ok and that it dosen’t affect your confidence – get well soon!

    Report abuse

  2. 2
    jeff

    trouble is with todays justice system the yobs will have a good reason for doing this if not their solicitor will so all they’ll get is a telling off.

    Report abuse

  3. 3
    monkey

    one word for these people SCUM

    Report abuse

  4. 4
    pussycat

    I was horrified to see your injuries Len,if and when they are caught,lets hope they get the punishment they deserve. Good Luck

    Report abuse

  5. 5
    michelle matthews

    i think they are cowards they need locking up

    Report abuse

  6. 6
    Mart

    Wellington has become a “No Go Area” for quite sometime. The incidents we read not so long ago regading several incidents near the college. The incident where a man was dragged from his car and beaten and now poor old Len. Come on West Mercia pull your finger out. Let’s have more covert police on the street. We don’t want thugs like this walking our streets.

    Report abuse

  7. 7
    Davey

    Vermin like this need horsewhipping in public. The parents of them will no doubt be vermin, this lot will reproduce and the vermin cycle will continue. This sub human filth need the three strikes system, after the third, then it’s a revolver to the back of the head

    Report abuse

  8. 8
    Nelson

    I hope Len gets over this horrific ordeal a.s.a.p.
    Why no description of his attackers in the report?

    Report abuse

  9. 9
    Andrew finch

    As I have said in the past the UK is soft on crime and soft with punishment hence why these yobs did this to this guy they have no fear of the punishment.Build bigger prisons overhaul the sentence system and increase prison sentences without early parole , srcap tags scrap open prisons.And before the wet limp wristed liberal types join in put yourself in this guys shoes apart from the pain he must be in now what about the months later when effects of what happened hits him mentaly .

    Report abuse

  10. 10
    Colin. D.

    My sympathy to Len, what a thing to happen. Let’s hope they are caught and sent away for a VERY long time but going on past sentencing patterns no doubt they will escape with a slap on the wrist.

    Report abuse

  11. 11
    John

    Cowards, i really cannot find the words to describe these people, well not words that can be put in the comments area.

    I am just so disgusted at this.

    Report abuse

  12. 12
    Tracy

    When i was a kid we wouldnt dare do anything like this, we had bobbies on the street who would give us a clip round the ear if we misbehaved then go tell our parents and we would get another from them because the bobby had to give us a clip round the ear. I dont know if anyone else agrees but now is the time we need the ‘borstals’ and the bobbies on the beat and good old fashioned youth clubs. And give back some power to the teachers.

    Len i hope you recover soon.

    Report abuse

  13. 13
    Steven

    This is just a sign of the times that we live in, no matter what comments we make, the situation will only get worse, we are powerless to change this, we live in a lawless society, trapped in a system that is spiralling out of control. Decent people are now carrying weapons to protect themselves in case animals like those who attacked Len strike again. Eventually the decent ones will start taking the law into their own hands, and will deal out punishment that fits the crime.
    Michael Winner had the right idea when he directed Charles Bronson in the ‘Death Wish’ films. If only !
    Get Well Soon Len

    Report abuse

  14. 14
    Suellan Fowler

    Davey @ 7

    Yes you’re right whoever attacked this gentleman are vermin but assuming the parents are vermin as well? I take it you personally know them to make this assumption and have therefore offered the information to the police?

    Report abuse

  15. 15
    JJ

    Hope you feel much better soon Len.
    Unbelievable that the human race can be so evil.
    Scum isnt a hard enough word for them.Agree with Steven on the ‘Death Wish’ films. Bring back the death penalty!

    Report abuse

  16. 16
    Captain Practical

    The parents are to blame, these presumably 15-16 year old youths are out in the early hours of the morning? Morals have gone. We need them back.

    A nutting squad should do it, 5 men with loaded shotguns patrlling the street for trouble, a bullet to the knees, that’d stop the trouble. And Morals would be learned.

    Get well soon Len.

    Report abuse

  17. 17
    Mark

    Interesting how the handwringing liberals have yet to comment on this case is it not? Those who attempt to defend the despicable perpertrators of such cowardly attacks as this, and other associated lowlifes, are noticeable by their absence. Could it be that even they have come to understand that some scum are indefensible?

    I wish you well in your recovery Mr Sanders, and hope that this incident will not put you off from going out and enjoying yourself in the future.

    Report abuse



Free e-Supplements

TWITTER

Shropshire Star on Twitter Shropshire Star on Twitter

Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.

Lifestyle

Interactive Dining Out map Interactive Dining Out map

Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.

Entertainment

All the film reviews All the film reviews

Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.

OUR NEW APP

Get the new Shropshire Star app Get the new Shropshire Star app

Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.