Grandmother in brick attack (From Barry And District News)

Grandmother in brick attack

A GRANDMOTHER who suffered serious head injuries after a vicious, unprovoked attack last week has voiced a heartfelt 'thank-you' to passers-by who came to her aid, saying her rescuers restored her faith in human nature.

June Lamb, 64, of Portadown, Northern Ireland, was visiting her daughter in Barry when the attack happened.

Her shoulder was broken and she suffered serious head injuries when a man came from behind her and hit her five times with a house brick in Windsor Road.

Mrs Lamb was taking her two grandchildren, whom she did not want identified, aged 15 and nine to Barry Island.

She said: "My faith in human nature was restored by the fact that so many people, all total strangers to me, so unselfishly helped in so many ways.

"I would like to thank all those who bravely prevented the attacker from fleeing. They disregarded their own safety. Thank you, too, to the people who administered first-aid and comforted my youngest grandson, who was understandably hysterical and traumatised."

A member of staff from Broad Street Garden Centre, who did not want to be named, said: "I heard screaming and ran out. Someone was being hit on the head on Windsor Road. I ran to attend the injured person.

"Customers from the garden centre also came out and encircled the attacker to stop him from getting away while the police were being called."

June's daughter Cathy, 40, said: "My oldest son showed amazing presence of mind to keep his little brother away from harm and to contact us.

"This vicious attack by someone who had no connection whatsoever with my mother has traumatised us all. He could easily have killed her."

"After coming through the troubles in Northern Ireland without so much as a cut on her little finger, she was in Barry for less than 14 hours and this happens. The attack was so bad that even the ambulance crew, from Barry, were apologising to my mother."

The man was arrested at the scene and held under the Mental Health Act before appearing before Cardiff magistrates charged with causing grievous bodily harm.

Cathy added: "I think this incident raises serious questions about care in the community. This was a timebomb waiting to go off."

A spokesman for the Vale Council's community care department said: "The council is responsible for social care in the community. However, we do not consider it appropriate to comment on individual cases."