AN Otley man lost his left eye after being viciously mugged for just £2.30.

Stephen Johnson, of Shirley Close, says he does not know how he will begin to come to terms with the loss of his eye.

And his brother yesterday revealed how his sight was already impaired.

"He had corneal transplants in both of them and the left eye was actually the better one," he said.

Peter Johnson said his brother was now 'bearing up very well'. "We're taking it from day to day. It just came out of the blue," he said.

Detectives are appealing for information about the attack which happened in broad daylight in a ginnel linking Westgate and Kirkgate.

Mr Johnson, 48, was making his way home from work at Armitage Monobond, Ilkley Road, when he was suddenly attacked by a man screaming 'give me your money'.

His face was smashed against the wall of the ginnel, badly injuring his eye. The attacker pinned him down and rifled through his pockets, finding about £2.30 in loose change. He then made off leaving Mr Johnson to stagger to the end of the ginnel where passers-by helped him and raised the alarm.

Doctors at the Bradford Royal Infirmary fought to save his eye but the following morning broke the news to him that it was hopeless, and operated to remove it.

Speaking from hospital, Mr Johnson said: "I had been walking home and looking forward to my holiday when it happened - I always walk that way home. When I came round my glasses were on the floor and I could hardly see anything. Blood was pouring out but I thought at first it was just coming from a head wound. I don't know how I'm going to come to terms with losing my eye."

Three teenage girls who raised the alarm after seeing Mr Johnson stagger from the scene told the Wharfedale Observer of their horror.

One, who did not want to be named, said: "It was awful, there was just blood everywhere. We ran down to Westgate to get someone to ring an ambulance. He looked terrible."

Detectives want to hear from anyone who may have seen the attack at 5pm last Thursday. They have released a description of a man they want to question seen sitting on a wall near the ginnel shortly before the attack.

He is described as white, in his early 20s, with short cropped blond hair, a long narrow nose, and 'squinting' eyes.

Acting Det Insp Martin Harrison said: "This is a hideous offence. In a town like Otley it is just not the sort of thing you expect to happen."

Detectives can be contacted on (0113) 2413459.

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