Muggers in 'sickening' attack on frail pensioner who had visited cash machine

Published on Wednesday 20 August 2008 02:25

A PENSIONER suffering from Parkinson's disease was assaulted and robbed in a "sickening attack" in Edinburgh.

The 75-year-old man was attacked in Atholl Crescent Lane in the West End at 4:30pm on Sunday, shortly after he had withdrawn some money from a cash machine.

He had used the Bank of Scotland machine on Shandwick Place and was making his way home when two men approached him asking for directions.

They then pushed him to the ground before one of the men reached into his pocket and grabbed the money.

A police spokesman said yesterday: "This was a sickening attack on a vulnerable, elderly man, and we are appealing to the public to help bring the two men responsible to justice.

"The victim uses a walking stick and is unsteady on his feet, so he may have been quite noticeable to people who were in the area at the time."

Police said the suspects made off towards Canning Street.

The first is described as being white with "slightly bronzed" skin, 5ft 8ins tall, 30 to 40 years old, of medium build and with dark brown hair. He was wearing a baseball cap and spoke with a foreign accent, but had good English.

The second man was described as being white, 30 to 40 years old, 5ft 8ins tall and of medium build.