Crimewatch appeal after savage beating of Salterforth war veteran (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Crimewatch appeal after savage beating of Salterforth war veteran

7:30pm Friday 13th February 2009 in

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DETECTIVES investigating the savage beating of an 89-year-old war veteran have turned to national TV in a bid to catch those responsible.

Bob Schofield was left with horrific facial injuries after confronting burglars at his home, in Chapel Hill, Salterforth, in November.

Now police are using the BBC’s flagship Crimewatch programme and hoping it sheds new light on the thugs behind the shocking incident.

A crew from the programme is due to travel up to East Lancashire next week to film a vivid reconstruction of the crime and interview the detective leading the investigation.

Det Insp Dave Groombridge, from Pendle CID, said: “We are at the stage of the investigation where we feel that we would benefit from Crimewatch.

“It was just a case of a quick call to the BBC to talk about the suitability of it, then they came up and checked it out and decided it was something they could do for us.

“There is no shortage of police forces wanting to use Crimewatch but this is a very important case to use and a big human interest story.

“Hopefully the case will benefit from national exposure and we will get something from it.”

The move by detectives to use Crimewatch follows the arrest last year of 16 men (corr!)in connection with the incident. They were later released without charge.

Mr Schofield, who served in the Royal Navy and fought in the Second World War, spent six weeks in hospital following the attack before being allowed back home to be his wife, Mollie, 87.

Lancashire police has made extensive use of Crimewatch in the past. In September, detectives aired an appeal following an armed robbery on a bank in Darwen.

The appeal for information to find Mr Schofield’s attackers will be aired on February 26.