This is the shocking moment a 74-year-old pensioner was brutally attacked on his own driveway by a masked thug wielding a wooden plank studded with nails. CCTV footage captures the terrifying assault on Joe Storer as he checked his bins outside his home in Derby, South Normanton.
Violent Morning Assault Caught on Camera
The disturbing incident occurred at approximately 6:30 am on March 10 in Bryant Lane, South Normanton. Surveillance video shows Mr Storer opening his main gate before a man dressed entirely in black and wearing a ski mask charges at him with the makeshift weapon. The attacker strikes the pensioner once in the face before dropping the plank and fleeing the scene toward the footpath leading to Lea Vale.
Victim's Harrowing Account
'At the corner of my eye I saw somebody,' Mr Storer recounted. 'He rushed at me so I turned away, and he hit me from behind on my face and neck. He then dropped a piece of wood and ran off. I picked up the piece of wood, told him to come back, and I called him a coward for what he did.'
The footage shows the injured pensioner clutching his face as he rushes back inside his property. His wife, Helen Storer, described finding her husband bleeding profusely from the mouth. 'My husband came back in the house bleeding around his mouth and said that he had been attacked. He wouldn't stop bleeding,' she said.
Hospital Scare and Ongoing Trauma
The couple immediately dialled 999, and Mr Storer was rushed to hospital with a suspected brain bleed. Fortunately, a CT scan revealed the injuries were severe cuts and bruises rather than internal bleeding. Despite this relief, the psychological impact has been profound.
'I go to my garage in the morning and I'm looking over my shoulder all the time,' Mr Storer admitted. 'I'm quite fit, but I am worried because I still am a 74-year-old pensioner with a heart condition. I worry what could happen next. Is it a knife attack or is it petrol through the letter box? You simply don't know.'
Police Response and Investigation
Derbyshire Police have confirmed that a man in his 50s has been arrested in connection with the assault. The suspect is described as approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall with a slim build. Inspector Mat Winterbottom, who leads policing in Amber Valley, acknowledged the severity of the attack.
'The assault suffered by this victim is shocking, being attacked at your home in this way will have had a significant impact both physically and emotionally,' Inspector Winterbottom stated. He also apologised for communication failures, noting that 'the sergeant for the area has been in touch directly to make that apology and update him on the status of the investigation.'
Appeal for Witnesses
Police are actively appealing for witnesses who were in the Bryant Lane area around 6:40 am on March 10. A spokesperson for Derbyshire Police emphasised that 'footage from the scene shows a number of witnesses in the area at the time,' and urged anyone with information to come forward.
Investigations continue with a comprehensive CCTV trawl of the vicinity. The case highlights concerns about violent crime against elderly residents and the importance of community vigilance in residential areas.
