War veteran fighting for life after robbery

Former telephone engineer Peter Gouldstone suffered severe injuries including two bleeds on the brain, with his son saying he was “lost for words at man’s inhumanity to man”.

An image of the unconscious widower hooked up to tubes on a hospital bed with bruises on his arms and face was released on Wednesday.

Simon Gouldstone told reporters his father had worked on phone lines in Italy during the Second World War before going on to a career at the Post Office then retiring around 1980.

The former civil servant said he found his father in a “semi-conscious state” in his bedroom on Evesham Road, Enfield, north London, on Tuesday morning after the back door was broken in.

The 67-year-old, who was alerted by a neighbour, told reporters: “I smelt a rat because the house was very cold, he was in amongst quite a lot of turmoil.

“He couldn’t communicate, he had bruising on his arms and face.

“I don’t know how they can live with themselves. The sooner they’re locked up the better.

“As a member of the family I’m shocked, as a member of the human race I’m lost for words at man’s inhumanity to man I’m afraid.”

Mr Gouldstone had lived in the terrace house for more than 60 years, and neighbours said he was rarely seen outside following the death of his wife of 65 years Joan several years ago.

The couple also had a daughter.

Elderly neighbours said there had been several burglaries in the area in recent years and spoke of their shock and concern following the incident.

Pio Gomes, 78, said: “I used to take his bins out for him because he wasn’t steady.

“His son Simon used to come round and take him out, take him shopping.

“Of course it affects you because it’s worrying. It’s callous, who could have done this to an old man like him?”

A black Panasonic 26ins TV was stolen from the house along “with a number of other items”, police said.