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| Burglars beat 89-year-old veteran | Burglars beat 89-year-old veteran |
| (8 minutes later) | |
| An 89-year-old war veteran was beaten repeatedly after confronting burglars who used what police say was an "obscene" level of violence. | An 89-year-old war veteran was beaten repeatedly after confronting burglars who used what police say was an "obscene" level of violence. |
| Bob Schofield and his 87-year-old wife Mollie were asleep in bed at their home in Salterforth, Lancashire, when the burglars broke in early on Monday. | Bob Schofield and his 87-year-old wife Mollie were asleep in bed at their home in Salterforth, Lancashire, when the burglars broke in early on Monday. |
| The pair were later found "shocked and injured" after a neighbour noticed their curtains were not open. | The pair were later found "shocked and injured" after a neighbour noticed their curtains were not open. |
| Lancashire Police said the attack was "heartless, cowardly and despicable". | Lancashire Police said the attack was "heartless, cowardly and despicable". |
| Mr Scofield suffered facial injuries and severe bruising. | Mr Scofield suffered facial injuries and severe bruising. |
| Both he and his wife are being treated in Airedale Hospital in Keighley, West Yorkshire. | Both he and his wife are being treated in Airedale Hospital in Keighley, West Yorkshire. |
| 'Defenceless couple' | 'Defenceless couple' |
| The Royal Navy veteran served in World War II crewing escort ships completing the notorious Arctic convoy missions from Scapa Flow to Murmansk. | The Royal Navy veteran served in World War II crewing escort ships completing the notorious Arctic convoy missions from Scapa Flow to Murmansk. |
| Acting Det Insp Dave Groombridge, of Lancashire Police, said: "This is a deplorable offence, committed against an elderly, defenceless couple in their own home. | Acting Det Insp Dave Groombridge, of Lancashire Police, said: "This is a deplorable offence, committed against an elderly, defenceless couple in their own home. |
| "It's hard to imagine a more heartless, cowardly and despicable occurrence and detectives will leave no stone unturned in their efforts to find those responsible. | "It's hard to imagine a more heartless, cowardly and despicable occurrence and detectives will leave no stone unturned in their efforts to find those responsible. |
| "Bob is 89 years of age and can't have been a serious threat to anyone, the level of violence used is obscene." | "Bob is 89 years of age and can't have been a serious threat to anyone, the level of violence used is obscene." |
| Det Insp Groombridge appealed for anyone with information to come forward. | Det Insp Groombridge appealed for anyone with information to come forward. |
| "Even those in or on the periphery of crime cannot surely condone this behaviour and I particularly appeal to the criminal fraternity to call time on this and do what is right," he said. | "Even those in or on the periphery of crime cannot surely condone this behaviour and I particularly appeal to the criminal fraternity to call time on this and do what is right," he said. |