Find my brother's attacker

Pauline Merrill's brother Tony Westby is still fighting for his life after the savage beating on Friday night.

Today Pauline, aged 64, from south Sheffield, pleaded for anyone with information about the attack in Hemsworth Road, Norton, to come forward.

She said: "It is horrific. He is on a life support machine and I barely recognised him as my brother. I would like anyone who saw what happened or who saw Tony in the area that night to come forward. This man needs to be caught because he is dangerous."

Pauline said 61-year-old Tony, who has learning difficulties, worked for many years as a blacksmith at Forgemasters.

She added he suffered from kidney failure, regularly attended the Northern General Hospital for dialysis treatment, and two weeks before the attack had moved into new sheltered accommodation in Mawfa Road, Gleadless.

She said: "He was feeling a lot better and had been to my house for dinner. I took him home and then the next day the police arrived and said he had been assaulted."

Detectives today urged members of the community in Norton where the attack happened not to protect the person responsible.

Det Sgt Neil Vaughan, who is leading the investigation, said: "I am absolutely sure someone knows who has done this.

"Mr Westby is a local man who was known in the area.

"We believe the person we are looking for is local and somebody will know or suspect what he has done."

He said it was possible the attacker had blood-spattered clothing.

"There was significant blood loss on the footpath and there is every chance that the person who has done this would have had blood on their clothing.

"If anyone knows or suspects anything I would urge them to come forward. If they had seen this man's injuries they wouldn't be protecting this person."

Officers are trying to trace a white man, aged 18 to 25, of medium build. They also want to speak to the driver of a silver Ford Focus seen at the junction of Blackstock Road and Hemsworth Road. Call the incident room on 0114 296 3613.