Published: Thursday, 1st May, 2008 08:20
Do you know grandfather's attackers?
By Lucy Thorne
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Do you recognise this pair?
THESE CCTV images show two of the thugs who attacked a grandfather in one of the worst assaults ever recorded on Reading bus workers.
Grandfather-of-three Joe Moure, 63, is urging anyone who recognises the pair, including their family and friends, to shop them to police.
He said: “It was a totally unprovoked attack and is the worst attack I have heard of in my career, but luckily they have it on CCTV.
“I hope someone will recognise this pair and will have the decency to come forward.”
Mr Moure had his eye socket fractured and has been suffering nightmares and a fear of returning to work, after he was attacked with a colleague, Roy Blackwell, on a late night bus in Reading’s Minster Street.
Reading Buses is offering a £1,000 reward for any information leading to a prosecution after three youths were involved in the attack at 12.15am on Saturday, April 19.
Mr Moure, a night bus controller who has worked for Reading Buses for 20 years, said: “I am pleased the bus company are offering a reward and I hope it does help.
“No one expects to be attacked like that, especially when it is unprovoked – it was a horrible thing to go through.”
Mr Moure, from Caversham, has difficulty focusing and cannot return to work until he has seen an eye specialist at the end of the month.
Mr Blackwell, who was punched in the face as he picked a piece of card from the floor, suffered cuts and bruises and is also signed off work.
The two attackers and a third youth ran off towards The Oracle.
James Freeman, chief executive of Reading Transport, said: “We are hoping that someone knows who these people are and will recognise them from the pictures.
“What they did was absolutely devastating and utterly deplorable.
“We don’t often offer rewards, but we take the view that it is really important to try and find these people and it is worth offering a substantial reward to try and encourage people who think they may know something to share it with us or the police.
“The attack was very difficult for the victims to deal with. Sometimes these things are down to drunken behaviour but there is no evidence of that, Roy and Joe were simply doing their jobs.
“I have worked on the buses for around 34 years and have not heard of an attack like this. It is quite extraordinary.”
If you recognise the youths contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or call Reading Buses on 0118 959 4000.
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