Disabled man beaten up in row over dog lead

A disabled man is in a serious condition after being knocked out of his mobility scooter, punched and stamped on as he lay defenceless on the ground.

RAF veteran Richard Sandon was set upon in Peterborough as he travelled along a towpath by a man who tripped over his dog's lead.

Despite Mr Sandon apologising, the man attacked him and also kicked his Cavalier King Charles Spaniel called Blue but the animal is unhurt.

The 52-year-old, who was left disabled after being shot in the leg while he was in the RAF, suffered black eyes, fractured ribs and a broken arm in the attack at around 7.30pm on Friday near the bridge at Railworld.

Police have released this image of him in his hospital bed in a bid to try and catch his attacker.

Mr Sandon said: "I cannot understand what sort of person would attack me and my dog Blue in this way. I am a disabled man who is obviously unable to defend myself.

"Blue is deaf and wears a high-visibility coat which states this. Neither of us were a threat to this man. I hope he is caught so he cannot do this to anyone else.''

Detective Constable Vicky Speirs said: "This was an appalling and unprovoked assault on a victim who couldn't defend himself.

"I'm confident there would have been others using the footpath at the time and may have seen this man."

The attacker is described as black, slim, about 6ft 2in and in his late 20s or early 30s.

He was wearing a military-style green khaki three-quarter-length jacket, jeans, white boot-type trainers and a peaked black beanie hat with a red, yellow and green band around it.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.