Sheffield pensioner tells of terrifying ordeal at hands of hooded thugs who beat him with own walking stick

An injured pensioner has spoken of the horrific moment a group of hooded thugs beat him with his own walking stick and killed his beloved pet dog.

Johnny Chappell was walking his Yorkshire Terrier, George, when they were set upon by a group of hooded figures who had been hiding in bushes. Speaking from his hospital bed, the grieving 68-year-old said: “George was my best friend. He kept me company – it was us against the world.” Johnny was heading back to his home in Sheffield, when he noticed he was being watched from nearby bushes.