Disabled man (60) fights off vicious mugger in Hucknall

Ken Cotham (60), a stalwart member of the Hucknall Royal British Legion branch, was on his way to their Poppy Appeal launch when he was subjected to the shock assault.

He was walking on the pavement in Orchard Street towards Croft Avenue at about 7.20pm on Saturday 18th October when the big man, riding a mountain bike, ran full pelt into him from behind, knocking him to the ground.

Mr Cotham wears specialised glasses which he had picked up from a local optician’s the previous day. and these were sent flying.

The man then continued the attack with kicks to the body, causing severe bruising. Mr Cotham bravely fought back and hit the man in the face with his walking-stick, which broke.

He heard his assailant say: “You have got to watch out or we will have you.” Eventually, the man got back on his bike and rode off at high speed.

Police are investigating and have made door-to-door inquiries. Unfortunately, this part of the street is not covered by CCTV cameras.

Mr Cotham is still having to take pain killers for muscular injuries and cannot sleep very well. He has had to make three visits to the Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, and must go back there again.

He says: “The attack has had a traumatic effect on me and has affected my confidence when I go out. I shall certainly not walk that way again at night.

“My biggest regret is that I could not take part in this year’s Poppy Appeal because of my injuries.”

The man is described as in his early twenties and about 6ft 2ins tall. He was wearing a dark-green hood, dark jeans and very bright white trainers. He may have a scar on his face from being struck with the stick.

“This man is dangerous and he needs to be apprehended,” says Mr Cotham. He believes he may have been picked on as a potential robbery victim because he was smartly dressed, and his black trousers were ripped during the asault.

At the same time, Mr Cotham thinks the fact that he needs to walk with a stick could have made the man believe he was an easy target.

Mr Cotham claims that a location near where the incident happened has apparently become a popular spot for drug dealing.

As well as his long-standing link with the Legion, Mr Cotham is chair of Hucknall Central Tenants’ and Residents’ Association, vice-chair of Ashfield Federation of Tenants’ and Residents’ Associations and a committee member of Ashfield and Mansfield Liberal Democrats.

Born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Mr Cotham has lived in Hucknall for 23 years. He is a former manager of the town’s Masons Arms pub, where he once had to fend off four raiders.

Anyone with information about the attack is asked to call the police on 101 or ‘Crimestoppers’ anonymously on 0800 555111.