Pensioner assaulted and pushed in front of double-decker bus in Newcastle city centre

A pensioner narrowly avoided being hit by a double-decker bus after being assaulted by a gang of teens in the Newcastle city centre.

Northumbria Police received reports of the altercation at around 7 pm on December 4 last year.

They heard that an elderly man had become involved in a verbal fight with five teenage males on Percy Street.

The young men then followed the 71-year-old down the street before one pushed him.

The shove caused the elderly gentleman to fall into the road and into the path of an oncoming double-decker bus.

Thankfully the bus was able to avoid hitting the victim, but the fall caused him a dislocated shoulder and long-term ligament damage.

An investigation was immediately launched by Northumbria Police and enquiries to trace those responsible have been ongoing.

On Wednesday, January 19 officers launched an appeal to the public asking for information to help identify a group of males who were in the areas at the time.

Detective Sergeant Katie Collins from Northumbria Police said: “This assault has left a pensioner with long-term injuries to his shoulder and we wish him a full recovery.

“We are working to establish exactly what happened and we have already followed up on a number of lines of enquiry, including a full review of CCTV. We are now appealing to the public for information and help with our investigation.

“This incident happened on a busy Saturday in the build-up to Christmas and we know there was a heavy footfall in the city, so we would ask anyone who saw this incident, the males and anyone who knows them to get in touch with us straight away.”

The males are described as wearing dark coloured jackets, with either hoods or dark hats. One is believed to have been wearing light grey jogging bottoms.

Three of the males were also riding bicycles.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to get in touch with police immediately, using the Tell us Something page on their website or by calling 101 quoting crime reference 135065R/21.