Man, 94, answered knock at door in his wheelchair but was met by 'face of evil'
The thug bizarrely halted his appalling attack at one stage and began shaking the ex-marine's hand before resuming the assault
A 94-year-old ex-marine answered a knock at his door in his wheelchair and was battered by a stranger in his own home. Leon Burgess burst into his elderly victim's home with an "evil look on his face" and subjected the OAP to an appalling assault while in a drink and drug induced stupor.
This even saw him bizarrely halt the shocking ordeal at one stage and shake the war veteran's hand before resuming his attack. The thug then fell asleep on the housebound man's sofa, enabling him to flee in terror and seek help at a nearby petrol station.
Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Monday, that the pensioner, who the ECHO has chosen not to name, was at the address in Newton-le-Willows, where he lives alone, at around 8pm on December 6 last year. He had been expecting a delivery from his carer at the time and answered a knock at the door, but was instead "greeted by the defendant towering over him" with an "evil look on his face".
Paul Blasbery, prosecuting, described how Burgess began shouting at the complainant, who attempted to shut his front door again but was overpowered by the unwelcome visitor. The 22-year-old, of no fixed address, told him at this stage: "I'm here to look after you."
The homeowner attempted to resist by aiming a kick to his groin, but Burgess pushed him and "began to get in his face". The old man, who said he had "never been as frightened in his whole life" and "thought he was going to die", also tried to hit his attacker with his walking stick, but was ultimately disarmed following a struggle.
The altercation then continued in the living room, where Burgess "stood over him in his wheelchair, raised a fist and tried to punch him". The victim, who has been forced to use a wheelchair "following a severe covid infection" and has not left his house for "a number of years" as a result, said of this: "I thought that that was it and I was going to die. The look on his face was just evil. I can't describe it in any other way."
Burgess subsequently sat down on the sofa opposite him before standing up and "rather bizarrely" starting shaking his hand. He thereafter "raised his fist again", leaving the veteran "unable to do anything but take what was happening", then took his seat once again.
After the intruder's "eyes began to close" and he appeared to have fallen asleep, the complainant, a former marine who served during the Malayan emergency, escaped to the main road and attempted to flag down cars before seeking help at a Texaco garage on Crow Lane.
A woman then phoned the police and called her boyfriend, who attended the address while the victim waited nearby for his own safety. He was left with a 3cm cut to his forearm which will cause a permanent scar, as well as suspected broken ribs and bruising to his forehead and chest, and said in a statement which was read out to the court on his behalf: "I've never felt this scared in my life, and I've lived a long life. Nobody has the right to assault me or enter my property.
"It made me wonder whether I was targeted. Was this person watching me? I honestly thought my life was going to end. No person should have to feel this way."
Burgess was meanwhile arrested by officers at the scene, later telling detectives under interview he "didn't cause the injuries" and that a "false allegation had been made against him". He however, "refused to elaborate" on this claim.
His criminal record shows four previous convictions for 16 offences. Louise McCloskey, defending, told the court: "I'm the worst human being and I'm deeply sorry for my actions. Those are the words of this 22-year-old man, who indicates genuine remorse."
When Judge Gary Woodhall remarked that he was "struggling with his motivation", Ms McCloskey said: "His alcohol problems and or his drug problems have clearly underpinned most of his offending history. He was under the influence.
"Having ended up at this gentleman's property, he then remains and falls asleep until the police attended and he was arrested. It is clear that the defendant himself is struggling to identify specific reasons why he ended up in that property, no doubt because he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time.
"He has been abstinent from drugs and alcohol. He has engaged in courses to address these problems. He looks different, even from when he entered his pleas.
"This is a serious and unpleasant offence on an elderly gentleman in his own home. There is nothing I can say which is going to make the experience any better for this gentleman. Hopefully, he will come out a very different person. At a young age, that is more likely to happen."
Burgess, who appeared via video link to HMP Liverpool, admitted wounding without intent and aggravated burglary. He was due to be sentenced today, but will now learn his fate on Thursday due to a lack of court time.
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Adjourning the case and further remanding him into custody, Judge Woodhall said: "I want to reflect on the sentence I impose before I settle on what that is. I will sentence you on Thursday."
