102-year-old war veteran injured in attempted burglary
WARNING: This article contains graphic images.
A 102-year-old war veteran has been injured after fighting off a burglar who tried to enter his home in Lincoln.
John Cox, who served in the Royal Armoured Corps, has lived at his home in Lincoln for 60 years with his wife Joan, who he met during the war
On Tuesday (February 18) at 1:45pm, a man who said he was there to check the lights tried to push his way past John - who realised that it was a scam and refused to let him in.
The man tried to get into the hallway, and John managed to wrestle him out of the door, but not without suffering a large gash in his arm.
John said he was suspicious of the man at the door because he wasn't wearing a badge or any uniform.
He then told his wife Joan to ring the police, which prompted the intruder to try to force his way in.
He only realised he'd been injured after pushing the intruder out of the door.
The couple's daughter Jill Andrews, 72, had been walking her dogs nearby when the incident took place.
She says she rushed to her dad's home straight away and was shocked at the scene that greeted her.
John says he doesn't know how he managed to force back the man, but insists he was never going to let him get past him.
This is the second time in four months that the couple have been targeted - after a man claiming to be from the gas board made his way into their home and stole Joan's handbag.
Police are also investigating another robbery nearby, where a man pushed his way past a disabled woman in her 90s, before stealing cash and bank cards from her home.
A 47-year-old man from Lincoln has been arrested on suspicion of carrying out these two burglaries and other offences.
He's been released on bail and police are urging anyone with information to contact them
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