Arrest over attack on Wairoa veteran

DISCHARGED: Wairoa veteran Dennis Andrews was yesterday discharged from hospital after suffering injuries when attacked by an intruder in his home last week. The community rallied around him after the attack. An arrest was made last night. The alleged offender was to appear in court today. Picture supplied

Police have arrested a 28 year-old man suspected of attacking an elderly Wairoa man in his home last week and a cellphone that was taken, containing the last photograph taken of the man’s late wife, has been recovered.

The alleged offender was located by police last night and charged with aggravated burglary.

He is scheduled to appear in Gisborne District Court today.

The victim — 79-year-old Dennis Andrews — was discharged from hospital yesterday having being admitted last Wednesday in a serious but stable condition after an intruder broke into his Brian Avenue house about 2.25am that morning.

Mr Andrews’ portable landline phone and his cellphone were stolen during the ordeal.

He was particularly upset about the loss of his cellphone as it contained the last photograph ever taken of Mr Andrews’ late wife Ann, who died in 2020.

The day before the attack, Mr Andrews — a former merchant navy serviceman — had participated in the town’s Anzac Day service, laying a wreath at the war memorial monument.

He was asleep in bed when the intruder struck. Afterwards, Mr Andrews had to venture outside in the cold, bleeding from wounds to his face, to get help from a neighbour.

Announcing the suspect’s arrest today, Detective Sergeant Sam Park of Wairoa CIB thanked the community for their support and help in providing information.

He said Mr Andrews was expected to make a full recovery.

The Wairoa community had rallied around him since the attack, expressing their disbelief at what many people described as a “gutless” attack.

Wairoa RSA president Jeremy Harker told media Mr Andrews was well known and highly regarded in the town. People were doing all they could to help him. His cat was being fed and his locks had been changed. There would be much ongoing support for him after he was discharged from hospital.

Mr Harker said he chatted with Mr Andrews at the Anzac Day ceremony the day before the attack.

“He’s a regular at our Anzac parades. The old merchant navy boys are pretty staunch, and rightly so. They’re very proud of what their service was and they’re a pretty tight crew. They did some hard yards and are widely respected.

“He’s quite frail, a small wee man with a walking stick. He wouldn’t hurt a flea.”

He felt Mr Andrews had been preyed upon because he was vulnerable.

“It’s just really sad and disappointing. It’s also absolutely disgusting. He’s just a frail old man, who’s served the country, and in his most vulnerable time this is what’s happened to him. I am pretty gutted for him . . . and I am gutted thinking about how some of our more vulnerable people would be feeling as well.”

Another supporter, who asked not to be named, made a public post to Facebook urging the local community to at least help recover the man’s phone.

“Facebook solves things. This does not happen in Wairoa,” the woman said.