A grandfather aged 80 was stabbed in the neck with a 22 inch metal skewer before he was either dragged or crawled into a cupboard at his Walsall home where he lay for up to three days, detectives revealed today.

Leslie Ince may have known his attacker or attackers and invited them into his house in the upmarket area of Park Hall.

Police admitted for the first time today that there were no signs of a break-in at the St Ives Road property although there were indications of a disturbance inside.

They believe the skewer was taken from inside the house. Police today revealed more details about the scene confronting them as they forced entry to Mr Ince’s home on February 21 after son Peter, concerned he was unable to contact him, flagged down a patrol car.

Officers found Mr Ince, fully clothed and barely conscious in the understairs cupboard with the skewer still embedded 14 inches deep in his body.

DCI Matt Ward, of West Midland Police’s Major Investigation Unit, said: “This was a vicious and horrendous attack.

“We think he was lying there for two to three days before he was found.

“Mr Ince was very wary about letting people into his house but we think it is possible he may have met somebody and invited them back to his home. He was fortunate not to have died and in normal circumstances this may have been a murder inquiry by now.”

When he was found he muttered a few words but since then police have been unable to interview him because of his injury.

His family are maintaining a vigil at his bedside at Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham includingdaughter Stephanie, who lives in Canada, and flew back.

She said: “Each day brings more and more positive changes and results in his condition. What has happened to him is despicable.”