11:08am Thursday 3rd April 2008
By Jenny Brentnall - Crime reporter
THIS DEAF and blind man was punched to the ground in a terrifying daylight robbery just yards from his Newport home.
George Heard, 58, who is partially-sighted, deaf and cannot speak, was brutally attacked by two white men as he returned from picking up his £241 disability allowance from Pill post office.
He was walking into Pardoe Thomas Close when the men launched their attack on him from behind.
One punched him in the head, knocking him to the ground.
Then one of the men pinned him to the ground, while the other took his cash from the inside pocket of his jacket, before both fled the scene.
Lying helpless on the ground, he could not even explain his ordeal to a man who came to help him.
Instead he handed his mother's phone number to the man, who called her and alerted police and ambulance services.
His mother, Lillian, 74, who is recovering from a hip operation, told the Argus she was shaking with terror as she waited for news from the police about the attack on her son.
Mr Heard escaped serious injuries, but was taken to hospital as a precaution.
He suffered a severe blow to the head and also injured his neck as he fell to the ground.
Mrs Heard said: "It's terrible. He just can't defend himself."
"I know he's angry about it," she said.
Mr Heard was also left terrified by the shameless attack and now hopes the council can move him to another flat.
But this is not the first time thugs have hounded Mr Heard from his home.
In 2002, the Argus reported how he was living in constant fear in a flat in Potter Street.
He was eventually relocated after months of youths terrorising him, with incidents ranging from throwing stones, setting fire to his front door and even breaking into his home wearing Scream masks to steal cash and tobacco.
Now he and his mother hope witnesses will come forward to police and that his attackers will be caught.
Anyone with any information should call Gwent Police on 01633 838111 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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