Grandmother beaten for a bag of clothes

A WOMAN had her head smashed against a wall in a city underpass as she fought two muggers for a bag of clothes she was taking to her grandchildren.

Patricia Thomson, 48, was attacked in broad daylight by the men, who made a grab for her bag as she walked through the underpass beneath Wester Hailes Road at 9:50am yesterday.

The bag contained new clothes for the children, which Ms Thomson managed to keep hold of despite being thrown to the ground. Ms Thomson, whose two Yorkshire terrier dogs were also kicked by the men, said she was now too traumatised to use the shortcut again.

It is a latest in a series of incidents in underpasses in the area which have been plagued by muggers, drug users and antisocial behaviour in recent years.

At least 26 serious crimes took place in the nearby Calder Road underpass in the space of just three-and-a-half months, including assaults on two pensioners and a knifepoint robbery on a pregnant woman.

Ms Thomson said today: "I was walking my dogs on a stretch lead when two men in their early 20s started to run up behind me. I had no idea they were going to do anything, then one of them trying to grab my bag.

"It was a Jack Wills bag, which is quite an expensive shop, so they probably thought it was worth stealing. But I was just using that bag to carry new clothes for my grandkids that I was bringing round to them.

"I didn't want to let go of the bag so there was a struggle. The other man came over and tried to grab it too. They were shouting and swearing at me to let go, but I wouldn't. Then one of them started kicking my dogs.

"I fell over and they pushed my head and smashed it against a wall. They finally gave up and ran away without the bag."

Paramedics examined Ms Thomson, who is disabled after suffering a broken neck two years ago, and treated her at the scene. She added: "It was a horrific experience. When I was on the ground and they hit my head, I didn't think they were going to stop."

Ms Thomson, who lives in nearby Barn Park Crescent, and was making her way to see her grandchildren in Baberton at the time, said the underpass should be shut down until it could be made safe. Local councillor Ricky Henderson said:

"I'm not aware of any safety concerns over that particular underpass, but CCTV and better lighting at city underpasses would be a worthwhile investment."

Police said the man who grabbed Ms Thomson's bag was white, aged 19-20 and of slim build. He had brown shoulder-length hair, was unshaven and was wearing a green and yellow striped hooded top, dark jeans and white Adidas trainers.

The other man was white, aged 18-19 and stocky. He had short brown hair, was unshaven and was wearing a black bomber jacket, a burgundy top, jeans and trainers with "DC" on the side.

Police hunt thugs after victim loses eye in attack

POLICE are continuing to hunt two men who assaulted a man so severely that he lost an eye.

Builder Eddie Watt was heading home from a night out with friends in Edinburgh when he was set upon by two men who assaulted him first with a chain and later a baseball bat.

The 19-year-old was left in a pool of his own blood near to his home in Oxgangs in Edinburgh after the attacks, which took place at around 11.30pm on Friday.

Paramedics found the labourer with his left eye "spilling out", and they raced him to hospital in an attempt to save his sight.

The teenager said the attack began after he tried to chase away a dog which had been barking at him and his friends

Mr Watt said: "I was in a lot of pain when I woke up, and I was confused, I didn't know what was going on.

"The eye specialist said it was the worst he's seen. It's still weeping fluid now and there's a stitch in my eyeball. I've also got a staple in my head from when they hit me with the bat."

He added: "I don't know what I'd do if I saw them now. "They've just taken my eyesight away from me."

Police said the first suspect was white, 30-years-old, 5ft 8in tall with a large build. He was wearing a beanie hat and a light-coloured sweater and carrying a metal dog chain.

The second suspect is described as white, between 35 and 40 years old, 5ft 9in tall with a large build. He was wearing a dark-coloured T-shirt.

A police spokesman added: "This is an appalling act of violence that has left the victim with a serious and permanent injury and disfigurement.

"We are keen to speak to anyone who can assist with our inquiries and ask that anyone who recognises the descriptions of the suspects and can help us locate them contacts police immediately."

Anyone with any information can contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131-311 3131, or Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.