FRANCOIS Beugels’ battered and bloodied face says it all.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 76-year-old North Nowra resident was the victim of a cowardly and callous attack in North Nowra on Sunday night.
He was punched to the ground, had his head pushed into a concrete gutter, his wallet stolen and his head stomped on.
Mr Beugels appeared with Shoalhaven police for a media conference on Monday to appeal for public assistance.
Acting Shoalhaven Local Area Commander, Acting Superintendent Paul Condon said the attack was unprovoked.
“Mr Beugels was the victim of a callous assault by two males in their late teens, approximately 16 to 19 years old,” he said.
“It was an attack on a vulnerable member of our community.
“His face says it all, this was a very low act by these people.”
Mr Beugels was on his daily walk around 6.30pm on Sunday on Pitt Street, North Nowra when he noticed two teenagers following him.
He continued walking onto Page Avenue, where one of the teenagers assaulted him near the intersection of Goolagong Street.
Punched to the ground he had his head pushed into the concrete gutter.
The offenders then stole his wallet before inflicting another beating on him, stomping on his head, before running away.
It is believed Mr Beugels’ cries for help prompted one of the teenagers to return and kick him several times.
Mr Beugels said he thought his time was up.
“They never talked to me, I just got hit from behind – bang, bang, bang,” he said.
“I was bashed repeatedly, stomped on repeatedly and my head was smashed into the asphalt – I thought my days are gone, that’s it.
“I heard one of the fellows say, ‘That’s enough’, and then immediately said, ‘Get his wallet’. Then I got the foot into my face.
“I was yelling, yelling, yelling and people started coming out.”
Police went to the scene and searched without success for the offenders.
They are now appealing for public information about the attack.
Acting Superintendent Paul Condon said it was believed the offenders were local.
“We believe someone within the Nowra community has done this. We are appealing for anyone who may have any information, hears or knows anything about this attack to come forward,” he said.
Police are urging anyone with information about this incident to call Shoalhaven Local Area Command on 4421 9699 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The two suspects are described as Caucasian in appearance, between 160 to 170cm tall, aged in their late teens, and both were wearing hooded jumpers, one of which was red.
Police said there was no connection between Sunday night’s attack and the discovery of a 52-year-old man found lying unconscious on a cement slab in front of the change rooms at the Sharman Park soccer fields recently.
That man had apparently suffered a medical incident, a fit, and had collapsed, and sustained a large wound to the back of his head.