AN ARMY veteran who beat cancer and a superbug was viciously kicked in the head and stomach after being confronted by a gang of youths.

Blackwood man Chris Sanders, 67, who was in an induced coma because of his health problems last year, was closing up a shopping centre when he was attacked at 7.45pm on November 24 - he says five youths confronted him.

Mr Sanders, the manager and caretaker of Gwent Shopping Centre in Tredegar, said: “Recently, I’ve noticed youngsters hanging around the shutters becoming a problem. Often, there are 15-20 youngsters there, particularly in winter.

"I should not have to put up with youngsters messing about. But, until now, I’ve never had any real problems and kids have never done anything like this.

“When I went to close the shutter to the toilets, a lad put his hands under to stop it shutting. I managed to shut it, but he told me he would have me. "

He added: “A few of them were on bikes and there was no reason at all for him to do what he did. One of the group even told him to stop and to leave me alone. If I had strength, and went at him, the others might have got involved. It was all over in a few minutes and it happened so quickly.

“The problem is drink. When they have a pint or two, they feel like they can take on the world.”

A youth of 15 was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and has been bailed until January 13.

The former corporal served in Hong Kong, Jamaica, Cyprus, and Northern Ireland with the infantry of the Royal Welch Fusiliers between 1967 and 1986.

He has worked at the shopping centre for the past 13 years.

Mr Sanders, who survived bowel cancer and a life-threatening hospital superbug last summer, said the only shop still open in the shopping centre at the time was Farmfoods and a worker at the frozen foods shop alerted the police.

Mr Sanders drove home and went to the Royal Gwent Hospital, where he was treated for shock and bruising to his forehead. He returned to work on Tuesday morning and said that he hopes there will be a continued police presence at the site.

He said: “I have marks on my forehead and they had to make sure my stomach was OK. Luckily, I can’t complain.

“Hopefully, things will improve and there were three community support officers there on Tuesday night. But, the kids could be back in a fortnight and we really need more police on the ground doing foot patrols.”

Mr Sanders’ son, Lee, 40, who serves as a military police officer in Canada, said that the fact his father returned to work so soon after the incident is typical of his stoic nature.

He said: “My Dad was diagnosed with bowel cancer last year and his treatment was going well, but there were complications after surgery and he contracted a superbug in hospital last summer. He only had a slim chance of pulling through as it was a real catch 22 situation: the bug was feeding off the antibiotics but he needed the antibiotics to stop the spread of it.

“He was put into an induced coma for two weeks and was on a life support machine, but he pulled through. It was tough, but he was out in August and within eight weeks, after all that physiotherapy, he was back to work. He’s not one to be defeated.

He added: “I was absolutely sickened when on heard what had happened to him on Monday. Doing the job I do, I see people attacked quite often but for a youngster to attack an old person is something else and there’s a lot more respect for elders here in Canada.

“The family have been through so much in the past two years and my Dad’s fought strong and hard. It could have killed him and it really was a senseless act."

If you have any information on the incident, call 101 quoting log 436 24/11/14.