Facebook group to support doctor attacked in his home (From The Northern Echo)

Facebook group to support doctor attacked in his home

11:46am Thursday 9th July 2009

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MORE than 1,000 people have been so outraged at the brutal beating of a frail pensioner that they have joined a Facebook site supporting the 92-year-old.

Retired GP William Benson, who had spent 50 years caring for the people of Stanley, County Durham, was attacked by burglars as he slept in his remote home.

The defenceless doctor was punched in the head, then left injured for nine hours before a carer raised the alarm.

Crimestoppers has offered a £5,000 reward leading to the conviction of anyone linked to the attack, which took place just before midnight on October 17 last year, and now around 100 people a day are signing up to the social networking site expressing their revulsion.

Detective Inspector Geoff Smith, who is leading the hunt for the three men responsible, said: "The support site was set up by a woman in the North-East who saw the recent Crimewatch reconstruction and was appalled at what had taken place.

"Around 100 people a day are now registering on it and we would encourage more to join."

He added: "Although some of their comments can be extreme, it shows how young people communicate and how outraged the public are."

One comment on the site comes from a former carer who said no one could come across such a "gentle and caring" man as Dr Benson and added: "He has done nothing but care for the community. I hope they get the horrible people who have done this."

Another is from one of the actors who took part in the Crimewatch reconstruction.

Anyone with information about the incident should call police on 0345 6060 365 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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