GALLERY: Man (63) brutally assaulted at his house in Albermarle

According to Athol they attacked him from behind and stuffed something in his mouth to prevent him from screaming.

January 19, 2019

Elzaan Pienaar 2 minutes read

ATTACKED: Athol Nuttley after he was attacked on January 17.

A 63-YEAR-OLD man was brutally attacked at his house in Albermarle in the early hours of January 17.

Athol Nuttley went to take out his dirt bin as he does every Thursday morning. This Thursday was his unlucky day when more than one criminal entered his premises and assaulted him.

According to Athol they attacked him from behind and stuffed something in his mouth to prevent him from screaming. They then proceeded to strangle him and immobilised him so that he could not move or defend himself.

“They pushed me to the floor and as I fell forward I knew there was more than one attacker as I saw another pair of shoes. What happened after that I could not remember. I don’t know whether they had weapons or not,” he said.

The criminals stole a set of house keys and two sets of car keys, but the house alarm triggered, forcing them to make a hasty retreat before they could steal the vehicles.

Athol’s wife woke up from their dog’s barking and she knew something was wrong and pushed the panic button. Kyle, his youngest son, happened to stumble upon him in the front yard after he had been assaulted to the point of unconsciousness. He found his father tied up with the cord of his father’s gown and socks in his mouth.

Within two minutes, SWS Security arrived and assisted the family by calling an ambulance and the Germiston SAPS. According to Athol, the ambulance arrived in good time. However, the SAPS arrived five hours after the incident took place. “I am very disappointed but I can’t say that I am surprised. My other son, Athol junior, drove from Magaliesburg and he was still here before the police. The police did not even know why they were there and asked me what the reason for their visit was.”

Athol went to his home doctor who provided him with the needed medical attention as he temporarily lost his voice due to the strangulation. He also sustained bruises and lesions over various parts of his body.

Athol expressed his concern to the community: “To everyone in South Africa, get out of here as soon as possible. We have been targeted in the past – a house robbery and a hijacking – we have been victims of crime. You just never know when it will happen again.”

He would like to thank SWS Security for their quick response and their compassion. “I am also grateful to be alive and that nothing happened to my wife or children,” he concluded.

A case has been opened at the Germiston SAPS with case number 264/1/2019 and the police are investigating.