D-Day veteran attacked in claw hammer burglary in Taunton

A 96-year-old D-Day veteran has been left with life-threatening injuries after being attacked with a claw hammer in a suspected distraction burglary.

The man, named locally as Jim Booth, was attacked on Wednesday by a cold caller asking if he needed any work doing to his Taunton house.

When he refused, he was attacked, leaving him with serious injuries.

Mr Booth raised the alarm with his neighbours who phoned an ambulance and he was taken to hospital.

Avon and Somerset Police said it was not yet clear if anything had been taken from the house but they were treating the attack as part of a distraction burglary.

Det Ch Insp James Riccio said: "It's hard to imagine how anyone could attack a 96-year-old man in his own home, and I believe there will be people who have knowledge about who was responsible.

"This was a vicious and sickening attack, and we've launched a full-scale investigation to find the person who did it.

"Offences of this magnitude are rare but I'd like to assure residents that we're using all necessary resources to investigate this crime."

The attacker was described as being in his mid-30s, white, clean-shaven, with an athletic build and had dark hair.

He had been wearing dark clothing and jeans.

During World War Two, Mr Booth was part of a top-secret team of submariners who slipped into the waters off Normandy to scout the beaches.

Mr Booth has two sons and two daughters.