Callous burglars beat pensioner black and blue with his own walking stick during raid at South Yorkshire home

The horrifying attack was reportedly carried out at the home of 86-year-old Mr Taylor at around 2.30am on July 21 this year, leaving him with numerous injuries including two broken ribs, a damaged lung, an injured eye socket, a gash on his hand and a head wound which required stitches.

Those close to him are urging members of the public to help track down the men responsible, and to look out for his Rolex watches, which they may be trying to sell.

A person connected to the victim described how a group of three men wearing balaclavas gained access to the pensioner’s home, which is located on the outskirts of Sheffield in the S26 postcode area, by coming around the back of his house and damaging a side door to his property.

“He noticed a light downstairs had been turned on, he came to the top of the stairs and saw three lads were at the bottom. He threw a vase at them to try and stop them coming up.

“Two came into his bedroom and one started beating him on the landing, and started hitting him with the walking stick...they didn’t come with weapons but must have found it there,” the person said.

The person connected to the victim said that while all three men were involved in the attack, one appeared to take a leading role and even told Mr Taylor: “I’m going to ****ing kill you.”

The same man even continued beating him for a few seconds after the other two fled in response to an alarm sounding at Mr Taylor’s property, activated using a panic button, before all three made their escape in a vehicle waiting outside, with a fourth man appearing to act as getaway driver.

During the course of the burglary, the group of men demanded that Mr Taylor handed over his ‘Rolexes and cash,’ leading those around Mr Taylor to believe this was a targeted attack.

Two high-end Rolexes, one silver and one gold, were stolen during the burglary, along with two Bulova watches; and the men involved are said to have ‘Sheffield accents without a twang’.

The person said that despite Mr Taylor’s numerous injuries, he has already been released from Rotherham General Hospital due to the current high number of Covid-19 cases, and the elevated risk he presents, both due to his age and the lung injury he sustained during the deplorable beating.

He is now being cared for by family members.

South Yorkshire Police said: “Police were called at around 3am on Thursday, July 21 to reports of a burglary.

“It is reported that three men gained entry to the address through a side door. The occupant of the address, a man in his 80s, awoke due to the noise and confronted the men. They assaulted him with his own walking stick, causing him to suffer injuries to his head, chest, right leg and left eye, and made demands for his money and belongings.

“They stole four watches and fled the scene.

“Police attended the scene and the victim was taken to hospital by his family. He has since been discharged.”

Enquiries are ongoing to locate those involved.

If you have any information that might help officers, call 101 quoting incident number 92 of July 21.

Mr Taylor’s family can be contacted through The Star by emailing: [email protected]