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Oakford assault: police still hunting for attacker, elderly victim left with severe spinal injuries

Ben SmithComment News

POLICE are still hunting for a man whose vicious attack on an elderly couple in Oakford on Sunday morning left a 71-year-old man with severe injuries.

The elderly man was attacked about 8.30am yesterday, when he discovered another man had entered the property.

The intruder punched the man in the head and face several times, knocking him to the ground, before he punched his 64 year-old wife as she attempted to intervene.

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The man he fled the scene in a black Ford utility and was described as having a medium build, aged in his 30s, a short to balding style haircut and had fair skin.

He was wearing an orange fluoro top and a dark jumper over the top and what appeared to be work attire.

Royal Perth Hospital trauma service director Sudhaker Rao said the patient was stable, but had significant spinal injuries in addition to facial injuries.

“He does have some injuries, some of them require surgery. There is a fracture to his spine, he will have some increased risk of back trouble,” he said.

“He is conscious, he is quite coherent now. He had lost some consciousness and lost some memory around the incident.”

Detective First Class Constable Johnny Valastro said the attack was surprising given there appeared to be no motive and appealed for anyone from the public with information to come forward.

“We consider the person to be quite irate and violent and we would encourage people not to approach him, but call the police immediately,” he said.

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“We are urgently seeking for any information from the public, in particular around the Byford and Oakford area or passing through that area, more particularly, the Hopkinson Rd area between Thomas Rd and Orton Rd.

“We consider this to be a cowardly act, we treat this matter very seriously, and we’re asking the public who observed anything matching the description of the vehicle or the suspect to contact police immediately.

Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or report the information online.

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