How upset and filled with disgust I was when I found out about the tragic attack on Atherton Pensioner Eric Hicks, aged 72. A grandfather of two, a volunteer at Atherton Cemetery, an ex-worker in the Royal Bolton Kitchens & on the night of this absolute horrific attack it was him and his wife Doreen’s 50th and therefore Golden Wedding anniversary.
The pictures showing his injuries are shocking, saddening and just generally upsetting. Mr Hicks’s daughter Sue Metcalfe is quoted as saying:
“My father wouldn’t hurt a fly. This has sickened me and our whole family.”
“I hope the man who did this feels miserable for what he has done. The most horrible thing was having to tell my daughters, who are aged 15 and 13.
“My parents only wanted a quiet night for their anniversary and they didn’t even get that.”
The severity of this attack and the attacker rifling MR Hick’s pockets for simply a £20 note, a torch, keys for MR Hick’s Honda Car & an old Nokia handset is even more disgusting and the lowest of the low.
For this to happen in our own little community is certainly shocking and has certainly shaken the community. I hope it has made some of us aware to be vigilant, as, as the night sets in you just have no idea what is happening outside in your street and it seems that not even the most innocent, charming and friendliest of individuals are safe from these nasty, evil and despicable individuals. I would like to take this opportunity to send my absolute best wishes to all MR Hick’s family and everybody else who is affected by this. I wish him a speedy recovery and for him to know that the town’s love is upon him.
I pray that the attacker is caught for all our sake’s as to know that there is such low mentality and pure evil people on our own town’s streets is making me shudder at the thought. Any night for this to happen would be a travesty, but for it to take place on MR Hick’s own wedding anniversary just adds to making this one of the most disgusting things I have ever heard of.
I urge anybody who may know just who it was that caused this horrific, violent attack on such an innocent member of society to give the police a call without hesitation. Whether you DO know or even if you just have the slightest suspicion that you may THINK... get this individual behind solid metal bars where he belongs, I speak for the rest of the community when I say that I do not want evil people like this freely roaming our streets of our local community with his head held up high.
Get in contact with the police confidentially by dialling: 0161 856 7255.
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