An elderly man out for a walk along a towpath in Portadown was viciously assaulted early this morning (Monday).
The man, who was left badly shaken by the ordeal, also had his mobile phone stolen in the incident which happened around 7.30am.
It is understood the man was out for a morning stroll when the assailant, riding a bicycle, started making lewd remarks before assaulting the victim and making off with his phone.
The suspect is a younger white male who was wearing a blue jacket and was riding a bicycle at the time. He cycled towards the health centre following the incident.
Portadown DUP councillor Lavelle McIlwrath condemned the assault, describing it as “deplorable”.
“This man was out minding his own business along the towpath this morning when he was inexplicably assaulted,” councillor McIlwrath told Armagh I.
“I want to wholeheartedly condemn this deplorable act on a defenceless man, and offer my hopes that he makes a speedy recovery from this awful ordeal.”
He added: “I would appeal for anyone who witnessed this assault to contact police immediately. The person responsible must be caught and brought before the courts as soon as possible.”
Anyone with information can call police on 101, quoting ref 355 of today’s date.
Elsewhere, detectives are appealing for information following the report of an assault in the Church Street area of Portadown on Sunday afternoon.
Police received a report that a man had been assaulted by a number of males in commercial premises in the Church Street area at around 3pm
During the altercation the victim sustained a minor wound.
Enquiries are continuing and police are appealing to anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the area to contact detectives on 101, quoting reference number 1228 of 14/06/20.
Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime.
