POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a pensioner was seriously assaulted and left unconscious in an attempted robbery in Frinton.

Roddy Ashworth

A PENSIONER was seriously assaulted, cut with a knife and then left unconscious on the ground during a vicious attempted robbery in Frinton.

And yesterday the town's mayor said he was “appalled” at the assault, adding that he hoped the perpetrators would be caught and dealt with speedily.

The 70-year-old had been in a pub in nearby Walton on the Naze before getting a taxi to the Frinton area at some point between midnight and 1am on Thursday.

He was then approached by two men and a woman in Frietuna Road at its junction with Elm Tree Avenue

The men demanded the pensioner hand over his wallet, and when he refused he was punched in the face.

One of the robbers then brandished a knife, and when the victim held up his hands to protect himself they were cut.

The hand wounds will now require plastic surgery.

The would-be robbers then left their victim unconscious on the ground.

The first robber was described as male, white, about 6ft tall with spiked, jet black hair.

He had a pale complexion, appeared to be around 30 years old and was wearing a black jacket with the collar up and dark trousers.

The second robber was also male and described as white and shorter than other man.

He was thick set, in his 30s and was also dressed in dark clothing.

The third robber was a woman, also white and in her 40s.

Investigating officer Dc Kevin Ford said: “This was a low and despicable attack on an elderly man by three people intent on theft.

“Surely someone must know something about this?”

Robert Bucke, mayor of Frinton and Walton, said he would like to send his best wishes to the victim of the attack and stressed that Frinton was generally a safe place to be out at night.

“This is a dreadful incident, especially given the man's age.

“People should be safe to walk the streets at whatever time they want to.

“At our crime and disorder working party meetings, we have been pleased that the crime rates have come down recently, and that the more serious items we used to discuss at meetings are no longer the problems they were.

“But then something appalling like this happens - it just goes to show that whenever you think things are going right, someone somewhere proves you wrong.

“These people need to be brought to book and dealt with as soon as possible.”

Anyone with any information about the attempted robbery is asked to contact Clacton CID on 0300 333 4444 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0500 555 111.