Thugs attack blind man in Fareham

10:29am Saturday 8th December 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Julian Robinson, Eastleigh Chief Reporter

Richard Twose and his guide dog Bates Richard Twose and his guide dog Bates

A DISABLED man was kicked as he lay defenceless on the ground – moments after hearing his beloved guide dog being attacked.

Visually impaired Richard Twose was pushed up against a fence by two men before being assaulted close to his home in Fareham.

The 35-year-old, who underwent a kidney and pancreas transplant six years ago, tried desperately to shield his upper body after being pushed to the ground.

But his attackers, who struck at Youngbridge Court near Redlands Lane, kicked him in the stomach, causing bruising to his pancreas.

Seconds earlier, his dog Bates had yelped out in pain and lurched forward after being kicked.

Richard, who represented Great Britain in the Transplant Games as a sprinter, has branded the men “cowards”

urging anyone with information to contact police.

He told the Daily Echo: “These people are not human - they have really got a screw loose.

“I can look after myself up to a certain point, but not when there is more than one and when it is dark and with my eyesight in this condition.

“It all happened in a matter of seconds and I was not quite sure what was going on. I kept thinking to myself, ‘when are they going to stop?’ “I’m usually confident and involved with everything, but this has knocked me completely – I am not myself at the moment.

“I did receive bruising to my pancreas – that can be repaired. But the fact that they kicked my dog makes me feel almost guilty because I could not defend him.

“That has upset me more than the fact that I was hurt.”

Bates, an eight-year-old Labrador Retriever, has lost his confidence since being attacked and cowers behind his owners legs when others approach.

Richard, who plans to compete as a cyclist in the Rio 2016 Paralympics, has received backing from Eastleigh-based charity Open Sight, with whom he is heavily involved.

Chief executive Tessa Barrett said: “On behalf of all our beneficiaries with sight loss I think it is true to say that I am absolutely appalled at the mindless act of violence meted out to our sports ambassador Richard Twose and his guide dog, Bates, by people unknown.

“The impact of the injury to his dog is being personally felt by Richard as Bates is his eyes, and without him Richard is no longer independent.”

Police have launched an investigation.

Witnesses to the incident, on Wednesday at 6.20pm, should contact PC John Cupper on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Comments(40)

jade25 says...
10:49am Sat 8 Dec 12

The poor man and dog! I hope they both make a speedy recovery.

Report this post »

Crispinmumbles says...
10:54am Sat 8 Dec 12

What utter scum. If anyone knows who these vermin were they owe a debt to humanity to forward their names and I hope they get a good long stretch with big predatory old lags!

Report this post »

Stillness says...
11:02am Sat 8 Dec 12

I hope that when/if the spineless cretins are caught The Echo makes a big thing of it. Front page with just their pictures, names and addresses would be good for a start.

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Ginger_cyclist says...
11:17am Sat 8 Dec 12

Stillness wrote:
I hope that when/if the spineless cretins are caught The Echo makes a big thing of it. Front page with just their pictures, names and addresses would be good for a start.
Yes, then blind fold them and see how they like being beaten to a pulp while not being able to see or see properly and then parade them through the streets so everyone knows who they are, anyone who would attack an obviously blind or partially sighted person and their guide dog is no human so why should they get any rights like a human, I hope those scum get beaten within an inch of death before being dumped outside a police station for this heinous, unprovoked attack.

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peenut81 says...
11:18am Sat 8 Dec 12

This country is littered with cctv, it amazes me that it doesn't appear to have any effect on preventing/reducing or solving crime.
Best wishes to Richard and his dog.

Report this post »

Yorkyboy22 says...
11:18am Sat 8 Dec 12

And the award for 'Lowlifes of the Year 2012' goes to......
Seriously somebody in Fareham must have heard these 'hard men' bragging about their deeds. Do the right thing and shop them in time for Xmas!!

Report this post »

mooky9 says...
11:24am Sat 8 Dec 12

peenut81 wrote:
This country is littered with cctv, it amazes me that it doesn't appear to have any effect on preventing/reducing or solving crime.
Best wishes to Richard and his dog.
Umm it does when there is a camera there?
But in lieu of that, somebody shop these scumbags, cowards who deserve everything they get... But you can hear the lawyer already... Bad childhood, no jobs, recovering addict who deserves another chance...

Report this post »

forcaster says...
11:26am Sat 8 Dec 12

Wake up Britain,bring back capital punishment and the CAT and to hell with all these dogooders.What is needed is DISCIPLINE.Get rid of these human rights idiots and stuff Brussels.

Report this post »

pinkpitbull says...
11:34am Sat 8 Dec 12

this is sick. what sort of people do this kind of thing? hope they both recover and get their confidence back soon.

Report this post »

Roy S says...
11:36am Sat 8 Dec 12

forcaster says...
11:26am Sat 8 Dec 12

Wake up Britain,bring back capital punishment and the CAT and to hell with all these dogooders.What is needed is DISCIPLINE.Get rid of these human rights idiots and stuff Brussels.”

And dont forget the 'stocks'.
allways good for public entertainment, and shaming the perps.

Report this post »

ToastyTea says...
11:45am Sat 8 Dec 12

This is sickening, these scum deserve to be kicked in and dealt with in prison.

Report this post »

arthur dalyrimple says...
11:53am Sat 8 Dec 12

lower than a snakes belly , bring back hanging .

Report this post »

Subject48 says...
1:25pm Sat 8 Dec 12

Lynching. The word seems to have more appeal then it used to.

Report this post »

Rocket 1 says...
1:38pm Sat 8 Dec 12

Subject48 wrote:
Lynching. The word seems to have more appeal then it used to.
No better still, take their eyes out,then give them a good kicking, see how they feel, "SCUMBAGS"

Report this post »

Dresnez says...
1:59pm Sat 8 Dec 12

I do so hope Richard and Bates fully recover from this awful ordeal very quickly.

I feel I want to give the cowardly evil turds who did this a damned good kicking.


Why would they want to do this? Why?

Is this due to all the negative propaganda about welfare/disability claimants allegedly getting benefits when they could be working and if they look okay, they must be okay.

Only for people with kidney or other internal health issues, MS etc. it won't be visible to us, and people have good days and go into remission for short periods.

Or

Is this due to children being raised and treated as little kings these days where they get everything they want and when they want it, with no discipline and parents who are afraid of their kids.

Parents whose world revolve around the kids or parents that totally ignore their kids and let them run riot.

Maybe no one teaches the young right and wrong any more. Religion fulfilled this function once.

What a sick society we live in.

Report this post »

sparkster says...
2:46pm Sat 8 Dec 12

I agree with all the above comments, we're far too soft on thugs, give them the cat of nine tails they wouldnt want a second dose, there's no punishment just a slap on the wrist and telling them not to do it again, I hope Richard and bates a speedy recovery and this incident wont leave them too traumatised

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beiroot says...
2:46pm Sat 8 Dec 12

Is this for real.I find it incredible that someone could do this.What kind of people spawned these morons? I wonder if they would be proud of them.When they have people round and asked "and what does your son do?" Oh,he beats up blind people and their dogs but he's got a heart of gold bless him.

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David Icke says...
3:34pm Sat 8 Dec 12

peenut81 wrote:
This country is littered with cctv, it amazes me that it doesn't appear to have any effect on preventing/reducing or solving crime. Best wishes to Richard and his dog.
Most ridiculous comment of the day, thanks Peenus81

Report this post »

MGRA says...
4:23pm Sat 8 Dec 12

Not that I like UKIP, but if they campaigned at the next election saying that scum like this and thousands of others like them will be deported to the falklands for life and half that island will be converted into an open fend-for-your-self-f
or-life prison,,,, they would WIN the next election. How much longer are we going to put up with this laughable justice system and pander to the human rights of sub-humans ?

Report this post »

megacycle says...
4:38pm Sat 8 Dec 12

David Icke wrote:
peenut81 wrote:
This country is littered with cctv, it amazes me that it doesn't appear to have any effect on preventing/reducing or solving crime. Best wishes to Richard and his dog.
Most ridiculous comment of the day, thanks Peenus81
hahaha well said!
seriously though, somebody with a conscience must know who committed this mindless atrocity- crimestoppers is anonymous, a quick call is all it would take.
how or why anyone could do this is beyond belief; no theft is reported so what on earth was the point of attacking an obviously visually impaired man and his faithful dog? it's utterly sickening.

Report this post »

graeme37 says...
5:45pm Sat 8 Dec 12

**** scumbags i hope there caught n tortured hope the man and the dog are ok

Report this post »

SPIKEISLANDTRADER says...
6:18pm Sat 8 Dec 12

Crispinmumbles wrote:
What utter scum. If anyone knows who these vermin were they owe a debt to humanity to forward their names and I hope they get a good long stretch with big predatory old lags!
Totally SICK , real heroes these SCUM to attack a disabled guy and his dog . Lets hope they spend time locked up , ANIMALS they are

Report this post »

Folkestone Saint says...
6:21pm Sat 8 Dec 12

Can the Echo set up an account that we can donate to so as to offer a reward for anyone who comes forward with information leading to an arrest/conviction of these low life's

Report this post »

Stillness says...
6:56pm Sat 8 Dec 12

Looking at the posts on this story it is pretty obvious what the view of the majority are. Doesn't it make you wonder why those that we pay to represent us aren't listening? Or, more likely are listening but have decided that taking steps to improve the society that "the plebs" live in will not feather their own nests so is not worth the effort.

Report this post »

Sovietobserver says...
6:57pm Sat 8 Dec 12

Another outstanding example of humanity at its worst.
I've been informed,unfortunate
ly for Richard and Bates, it is general knowledge to locals in that particular area of Fareham, there is now a proliferation of lowlife smackheads and junkies there,who have been re-housed from other areas. If that is the case the authorities need to implement some stringent controls to kerb their abhorrent violent acts forthwith ,before we have to read more reports of this kind against vulnerable and innocent residents.
I suspect this has come about because the authorities have allowed a high concentration of accomodation allocated to their re-habilitation clients. If this situation is allowed to continue unchecked no doubt this will lead to a 'no-go' area being created, where decent families will just abandon the area in a mass exodus just like has happened to Boscombe in Bournemouth. The local council, police, housing agencies and re-habilitation professionals need to act together now for the good of all residents involved. For example licencing any premises where the majority of the residents are drug offenders, so that some control over their activities is closely monitored and any breaches in the regulations imposed are immediately curtailed, just hope this can be made a turning point before we have to see the innocents enduring yet further incidents of this kind.
Mr. Woodward FBC please take note.

Report this post »

David Icke says...
7:10pm Sat 8 Dec 12

SPIKEISLANDTRADER wrote:
Crispinmumbles wrote: What utter scum. If anyone knows who these vermin were they owe a debt to humanity to forward their names and I hope they get a good long stretch with big predatory old lags!
Totally SICK , real heroes these SCUM to attack a disabled guy and his dog . Lets hope they spend time locked up , ANIMALS they are
I agree, but sometimes animals are actually alot nicer than some humans!

Report this post »

Stillness says...
7:12pm Sat 8 Dec 12

I wonder if guide dogs for the blind would consider putting a few of their dogs forward for personal protection training? I would love to see a story on here about these two low life's being torn an extra bum hole.

Report this post »

joenice1 says...
8:05pm Sat 8 Dec 12

Very sad to here. Get well soon.

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eurogordi says...
8:22pm Sat 8 Dec 12

This story is a shameful indictment of how low some people in society have fallen. It also shows how powerless the authorities have become in dealing with such low life. I won't write any more, other than ditto, ditto and ditto to everything that has already been written here.

Report this post »

margie933 says...
8:25pm Sat 8 Dec 12

Richard is quite right to call these men Cowards! They are the lowest of the low, mindless evils thugs.I sincerely hope they are found and locked away for a long time. I hope that Richard & his poor dog recover soon.

Report this post »

100%HANTSBOY says...
9:29pm Sat 8 Dec 12

Sovietobserver wrote:
Another outstanding example of humanity at its worst.
I've been informed,unfortunate

ly for Richard and Bates, it is general knowledge to locals in that particular area of Fareham, there is now a proliferation of lowlife smackheads and junkies there,who have been re-housed from other areas. If that is the case the authorities need to implement some stringent controls to kerb their abhorrent violent acts forthwith ,before we have to read more reports of this kind against vulnerable and innocent residents.
I suspect this has come about because the authorities have allowed a high concentration of accomodation allocated to their re-habilitation clients. If this situation is allowed to continue unchecked no doubt this will lead to a 'no-go' area being created, where decent families will just abandon the area in a mass exodus just like has happened to Boscombe in Bournemouth. The local council, police, housing agencies and re-habilitation professionals need to act together now for the good of all residents involved. For example licencing any premises where the majority of the residents are drug offenders, so that some control over their activities is closely monitored and any breaches in the regulations imposed are immediately curtailed, just hope this can be made a turning point before we have to see the innocents enduring yet further incidents of this kind.
Mr. Woodward FBC please take note.
"Licencing their premises?"
No,how about kicking their doors down,giving them a fecking good hiding,chucking them into a lorry and dumping in a UK equivilant of Siberia!

Why do these social drop-outs deserve any sort of help? They have chosen their lifestyles,and it's about time, we,the decent people put an end to all this molly coddling.

Report this post »

Ted Rogers says...
11:06pm Sat 8 Dec 12

MGRA wrote:
Not that I like UKIP, but if they campaigned at the next election saying that scum like this and thousands of others like them will be deported to the falklands for life and half that island will be converted into an open fend-for-your-self-f

or-life prison,,,, they would WIN the next election. How much longer are we going to put up with this laughable justice system and pander to the human rights of sub-humans ?
Well actually if they campaigned on that ticket they wouldn't win. They'd still get their usual small percentage of votes but with a few more numbnuts thrown in.

Report this post »

VictorMeldrew says...
12:36pm Sun 9 Dec 12

Sovietobserver wrote:
Another outstanding example of humanity at its worst.
I've been informed,unfortunate

ly for Richard and Bates, it is general knowledge to locals in that particular area of Fareham, there is now a proliferation of lowlife smackheads and junkies there,who have been re-housed from other areas. If that is the case the authorities need to implement some stringent controls to kerb their abhorrent violent acts forthwith ,before we have to read more reports of this kind against vulnerable and innocent residents.
I suspect this has come about because the authorities have allowed a high concentration of accomodation allocated to their re-habilitation clients. If this situation is allowed to continue unchecked no doubt this will lead to a 'no-go' area being created, where decent families will just abandon the area in a mass exodus just like has happened to Boscombe in Bournemouth. The local council, police, housing agencies and re-habilitation professionals need to act together now for the good of all residents involved. For example licencing any premises where the majority of the residents are drug offenders, so that some control over their activities is closely monitored and any breaches in the regulations imposed are immediately curtailed, just hope this can be made a turning point before we have to see the innocents enduring yet further incidents of this kind.
Mr. Woodward FBC please take note.
The council should finish the job off with a barbed wire fence and guards to keep the idiots in.

Report this post »

VictorMeldrew says...
12:36pm Sun 9 Dec 12

Sovietobserver wrote:
Another outstanding example of humanity at its worst.
I've been informed,unfortunate

ly for Richard and Bates, it is general knowledge to locals in that particular area of Fareham, there is now a proliferation of lowlife smackheads and junkies there,who have been re-housed from other areas. If that is the case the authorities need to implement some stringent controls to kerb their abhorrent violent acts forthwith ,before we have to read more reports of this kind against vulnerable and innocent residents.
I suspect this has come about because the authorities have allowed a high concentration of accomodation allocated to their re-habilitation clients. If this situation is allowed to continue unchecked no doubt this will lead to a 'no-go' area being created, where decent families will just abandon the area in a mass exodus just like has happened to Boscombe in Bournemouth. The local council, police, housing agencies and re-habilitation professionals need to act together now for the good of all residents involved. For example licencing any premises where the majority of the residents are drug offenders, so that some control over their activities is closely monitored and any breaches in the regulations imposed are immediately curtailed, just hope this can be made a turning point before we have to see the innocents enduring yet further incidents of this kind.
Mr. Woodward FBC please take note.
The council should finish the job off with a barbed wire fence and guards to keep the idiots in.

Report this post »

Inform Al says...
12:58pm Sun 9 Dec 12

MGRA wrote:
Not that I like UKIP, but if they campaigned at the next election saying that scum like this and thousands of others like them will be deported to the falklands for life and half that island will be converted into an open fend-for-your-self-f

or-life prison,,,, they would WIN the next election. How much longer are we going to put up with this laughable justice system and pander to the human rights of sub-humans ?
What have you got against Bennies, they actually look after their islands and their behaviour shows us up. The answer to the problem has been repeatedly stated in these posts and until we restore the boundaries we used to have and that served us so well until the 1960s, things can only get worse. It's called human nature.

Report this post »

Donald2000 says...
2:16pm Sun 9 Dec 12

This is an extremely cruel, callous and cold-blooded act. They obviously have no idea what suffering they have inflicted. I am afraid I would bring back birching for such creatures and I would make sure that it was done in a semi public fashion, in front of prison officers and others, so that they (the perpetrators) could know humiliation of the sort they dish out.

We must as a whole society now reject such barbaric acts. I hope the victim and his guide dog find health and fitness again very soon.

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cannap says...
3:17pm Sun 9 Dec 12

Sadly there are many attacks on guide dogs and their partners. This particular attack sounds horrific. Richard will take some time to get over this incident but my feeling is that Bates will not recover sufficiently to work with Richard again. So due to an unprovoked attack by a gang of, well words can't describe them, a confident young mans life is shattered. He will probably have to wait for another suitable guide dog to become avavilable for him which could take some time. I wish well to Richard and Bates but I cannot write down want I would want to wish on the attackers

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allison.luella says...
12:42pm Mon 10 Dec 12

These people are pure cowards, to attack a blind man and his poor dog!! How wicked can anyone be to do such a wicked thing!! hope they find them and string them up!! x

My thoughts go to this poor man and his poor dog!! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
x

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lowe esteem says...
2:07pm Mon 10 Dec 12

I am sure the Echo -with help from the readership-will get those descriptions out as soon as possible. Likewise, some of the readership must know and do something, we've all got to be proactive so that we can stiffen up these laws, and send a message out to these lowlifes.
We are with you Richard and Bates.

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car59 says...
11:22am Tue 11 Dec 12

Stillness wrote:
I hope that when/if the spineless cretins are caught The Echo makes a big thing of it. Front page with just their pictures, names and addresses would be good for a start.
totally agree.

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