War hero attacked in own home

A MAN and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a decorated Second World War hero was attacked in his own home.

A 35-year-old man and his 26-year-old partner were being quizzed by detectives at Colchester police station last night after frail 91-year-old war veteran, Henry Bentley, was beaten up at his Tiptree home on Wednesday night.

Mr Bentley, who lives in New Road, is in Colchester General Hospital with two broken fingers and a broken rib, cuts to an arm as well as a badly bruised cheekbone.

Police were called at around 10pm to the quiet road after neighbours heard a disturbance next door.

A window at his detached bungalow had been smashed.

Officers arrested a man and a woman, who are both from Tiptree.

The large village was yesterday in a state of shock, horrified that a kind man, who loved nothing more than to talk to people, had been apparently subjected to a brutal beating.

Shop workers yesterday spoke warmly of Mr Bentley, who was often seen in the nearby Church Road parade proudly wearing a suit adorned with a rows of military medals, which he had won serving in the Navy during wartime.

Paul Tyler, who runs Don Tyler and Son Opticians, said: "He's a lovely old man, so proud and friendly and totally harmless.

"I think he was a bit of a hero in his time. So many people know each other around here and when this sort of thing happens it knocks you back a bit."

Congratulations Card Shop employee Eileen, who did not want to give her surname, said: "It's really upsetting, I just don't know how anybody could do something like that to him. Everyone knew him – he was always walking around with his peaked cap, he's lovely."

JeanWilliams, who works at the Crusty Loaf bakery, said: "He's very proud and always so friendly and talking about the war.

"He looks after himself, always very smartly dressed. He'd talk to anybody."