Burnley Express
June 9, 2014
A disabled Burnley man has slammed a thug who punched him in the face and tried to steal his mobile phone in broad daylight leaving him with a black eye.
Mr Brian Tomlinson (58) was walking across the park at Pit Top, Bank Hall, close to his Cobden Street home at 2pm last Friday when he was approached by a man who threatened him and demanded his mobile phone.
When he refused to hand it over, the attacker punched Mr Tomlinson in the eye before turning and running away.
Mr Tomlinson, who had been advised to start walking by his doctor to improve his health, was on his first stroll when he was attacked. He said the assault had made him nervous of going out alone and particularly walking through the park. He said he also wanted to warn others to be on their guard.
“He gave me such a lamp, he smashed my glasses and everything but I wasn’t going to give him my phone. He would be very lucky to get anything off me. I went out two days later with my wife, I didn’t want to walk across the park again. I was scared but I did it.