Murder hunt after disabled man attacked

A MURDER inquiry has been launched after a disabled man was attacked in his own home.

Ian Thomson died from his injuries in hospital on Sunday following the attack at his house in Ogilvy Crescent, Fauldhouse, in West Lothian in the early hours of December 5.

Mr Thomson suffered from emphysema, causing him severe breathing problems, and he struggled to walk anywhere.

Detectives were today trying to piece together the hours before his death after a post-mortem yesterday confirmed the 56-year-old had been murdered.

An incident room has been set up at Livingston police station as detectives started door-to-door enquiries in the street.

Mr Thomson was attacked some time between midnight on Tuesday December 4 and the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Following the attack he was taken to St John's Hospital in Livingston before being transferred to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where he died three days later.

Police chiefs are expected to release more details about the murder investigation at a press conference later today.

One of his neighbours who asked not to be named said: "We've had the police interviewing us all from the weekend until today. They've been going in and out of his house. He had emphysema and had a disabled parking spot for his car. He couldn't walk anywhere so always used his car. I didn't know him well but when we didn't hear of him coming home we assumed he had died. It's a quiet street normally and its been a shock."

The neighbour said Mr Thomson, who is thought to have lived alone, moved into the street at the beginning of the year.

A police spokeswoman said: "Enquiries are currently at an early stage, and we want to speak to anyone who thinks they may have information about the death of Mr Thomson.

"In particular, we are keen to speak to anyone who may have heard a disturbance at his home in Ogilvy Crescent, overnight from Tuesday midnight into the early hours of Wednesday morning, or who saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area at that time."

It is the second murder inquiry in the space of a week in West Lothian following the death of John Jenkins in the grounds of Inveralmond Community High School in Livingston.

The 27-year-old lived in East Calder and worked as a chef at Livingston's Tumblezone soft play area.

David McCaig, 18, from Ladywell in Livingston, appeared at Linlithgow Sheriff Court charged with Mr Jenkins' murder last week. He made no plea and was remanded in custody pending further inquiries.