Seafield operator puts up reward to find knife raiders behind attack

A REWARD of £5000 is being offered to help catch intruders who slashed a sewage works employee across the face with a knife and left him scarred for life.

A REWARD of £5000 is being offered to help catch intruders who slashed a sewage works employee across the face with a knife and left him scarred for life.

James Boyle needed 12 stitches in his cheek to close a wound which almost cut through to his gum after he was attacked by two men with a craft knife at the Seafield plant.

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Now Veolia Water, which operates the works, has raised the reward money which will be paid to anyone who provides information that leads to the conviction of the attackers.

The reward is being offered through the crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers, which appealed for anyone who can assist the police investigation to get in touch anonymously.

Kate Jackson, Crimestoppers’ national manager for Scotland, said father-of-two Mr Boyle had suffered a “heinous attack” on November 13 at the hands of the two men, who had broken into Seafield Sewage Works to steal diesel.

She said: “This unprovoked attack is particularly nasty and I really feel for the victim who has suffered an extremely traumatic ordeal while simply doing his job.

“The individuals responsible for this should not be allowed to get away with their actions and I would ask that anyone with information act immediately. With the public’s help, we can catch those responsible for this heinous attack.

“The reward of up to £5000 is offered for information provided to Crimestoppers that leads to an arrest and conviction of the individuals responsible for this specific crime.”

Mr Boyle, 42, previously told the Evening News his injuries had left him “devastated”, while he suffers flashbacks of the brutal assault, which took place as he patrolled the site shortly after midnight.

The father, who lives in Bathgate with partner Linda Russell, 39, and children Angela, 20, and Connor, 13, said: “I was on night shift working 6pm to 6am and was doing the rounds to check some generators when these two intruders attacked me. I had obviously surprised them and felt like I was punched at first. They ran off, and I quickly realised it was something more serious.

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“I could feel blood pumping out of my head from a deep wound. I started to stumble away in terrible pain to try to get back to my control room. Every time I wiped blood away, more would come back and fill my eyes so I couldn’t see. It was like a windscreen wiper.”

The main suspect is described as white, 5ft 10in to 6ft 2in tall, slim build, late 20s to early 30s, short light/fair hair, a gaunt appearance. He wore a green camouflage jacket and blue faded jeans.

The other suspect is described as white and between 5ft 8in and 5ft 10in tall.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555 111 or visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org. Information can also be given to Lothian and Borders Police on 0131-311 3131.

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