An elderly cemetery worker had his cheekbone fractured when was punched to the ground, kicked and dragged around during a robbery in Atherton.
The man's family have allowed detectives to release pictures of his injuries in the hope it will help find his attacker.
At 8.15pm on Friday 30 September 2011, the 73-year-old man was in the grounds of Atherton Cemetery on Leigh Road preparing to lock up.
He was standing at the cemetery gates when a man walked up to him. The worker explained he was about to lock up and was immediately punched in the face.
The man fell to the ground and his attacker kicked him while he was on the ground and dragged him around, telling the man not to scream or shout because he had a knife.
The robber also threatened to stab the man while demanding money. The attacker rifled through the man's pockets while he was lying on the ground and took his black Nokia mobile phone, a small amount of cash, a key for a Honda car and the man's torch.
The victim was taken to hospital and has a fractured cheekbone, a serious cut on his lip, swelling to his face and head and bruises and grazes on his face and head.
He has undergone emergency surgery and he is still under observations and will remain in hospital until his condition stabilises.
The robber was described as a white man, aged in his 20s, 6ft tall wearing a grey tracksuit.
Detectives are keen to speak to anyone who was travelling along the arterial routes Leigh Road in either direction between Atherton and Leigh or Liscard Street from Leigh Road to Wigan Road from 6pm to 8.30pm.
Detective Chief Inspector Howard Millington, based at Wigan CID, said: "This was a vicious attack and the level of violence used to take a few items of little financial value was wholly unnecessary.
"The victim is one of the older members of our community who does a valuable job by looking after the place we bury our loved ones and, as such, should face nothing but praise and respect - so I find it particularly disgusting that a thug would show such little regard for this man or the surroundings.
"No doubt the community will be equally appalled and I'd ask for their help because together we can make sure the person responsible is caught and faces justice. We are determined to do this.
"Does someone you know have a new phone or, rather unusually, a new torch? If you saw or know something, please contact us."
Anyone with information is asked to call officers in Wigan on 0161 856 7255 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
--- The pictures are are quite distressing, so if that would upset you, stop scrolling down now -------
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