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CCTV: Elderly man, 79, punched in face in front of wife and grandson while waiting to get on Rochdale bus

By Danielle Wainwright

Police have released images of a man suspected of punching a pensioner in the face in front of his wife and seven-year-old grandson last month after a dispute over a bus queue in Rochdale.

The 79-year-old man was waiting for the 456 bus shortly before 3pm on Friday August 16 when a man put his arm in front of the victim’s wife to stop her getting on the bus.

The elderly man stepped in between his wife and the offender when he was punched in the face.

The victim, his wife and grandson got onto the bus where there was a further verbal altercation before the offender got off the bus at Lowhill.

PC Paul Daffern, based at Rochdale police station, said: “This was an unprovoked attack on a vulnerable elderly man in front of his family. He suffered a black eye and is extremely shaken by what happened.

“There were a lot of people in the queue for the bus that day who would have seen what happened. I would urge those people to come forward and talk to police.

“We have released an image of a man taken from the CCTV on the bus and we are very keen to speak to him. If you recognise him please get in touch.”

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 9961 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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