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Victim tells of horrific attack by schoolboys
"IF only they could realise the damage they've caused ..."
So said a Scarborough man who was left for dead by vicious schoolboy attackers, who beat him within an inch of his life in a brutal assault before getting away with 100 and a mobile phone.
As they fled the scene the youths were heard to yell with glee: "We've made a fortune."
Little did the thugs realise that although Billy Rowley cheated death following the attack, just three months later it would result in him losing his home.
As reported in Saturday's Evening News, Mr Rowley was the victim of a brutal assault in London last June. He was set upon by two 15-year-old youths, who continued to beat him with a length of wood even after having robbed him.
His brain was still bleeding days after the assault and he suffered two fractures to the skull and lost the hearing in his left ear.
His life was only saved by a have-a go-hero who rushed at the thugs when he witnessed the assault.
Sentencing one of the attackers to four years on Friday, Judge John Platt said: "You continued to beat up your victim even after he had been robbed and you left him with terrible injuries."
Because of time served on remand and an early release scheme, the attacker is expected to spend just 15 months in a young offenders' institution.
His accomplice is confined to a psychiatric institution and has been found unfit to plead.
Mr Rowley says that, though he has no memories of the assault, the day – June 21 2008 – continues to haunt him.
"I only found out the details of the attack last week," he said. "I don't remember it and the police didn't want to tell me about it in case it came up in court.
"But as a direct consequence of it I lost my home because I couldn't keep up with the mortgage repayments and now me and my 17-year-old son are having to live with a friend.
"I don't understand what they were up to, they'd got what they wanted but it still wasn't enough for them. I was at death's door – the doctor told me I nearly didn't make it."
Mr Rowley lost his house in Broadway, Northstead, after the Birmingham and Midshires Building Society foreclosed on arrears of just 2,600 in September, only weeks after the attack.
"I don't understand why they took my home off me so quickly," he said. "I was unable to work – I was still having brain scans. It just doesn't seem fair that they didn't take that into account. Until June I was up to date with all my payments."
But despite his heartache Mr Rowley says his faith in humanity was restored by the selfless actions of the man who saved his life.
Passer-by Herve Ekule rushed to Mr Rowley's rescue when he saw him being mercilessly attacked. He then called the emergency services.
"I didn't know his name until last week but I owe everything to him and so do my kids – without him they wouldn't have a dad," he said. "Most people walking down the street would look away if they saw lunatics like that. Thank God he didn't. I'd like to meet him and say thank you some day."
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Weather for Scarborough
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: 0 C to 1 C
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Light snow
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