West Bromwich car jacking trial: Pensioner left like 'bundle of rags' after robbery
A pensioner was left lying in the middle of the road like 'a bundle of rags' following a car jacking, a jury was told by a friend who came to his aid.
Reginald Stocking, 79, suffered horrific injuries, including a fractured skull, when his Peugeot 207 was stolen in the attack in Chapel Street, West Bromwich, on May 10.
Andrew Jones, 34, of Manley Close, West Bromwich, denies robbery, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, burglary and witness intimidation.
He is alleged to have stolen a TV from an address in Groveland Road, Dudley Port, just eight hours after the car jacking took place.
During the fourth day of his trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court, the jury heard evidence from Michael Makepeace, a friend and neighbour of Mr Stocking for more than a decade.
He said on May 10 he had been driving along Chapel Street when he had seen a male in a hooded top standing near a lamppost on the left hand side of the road.
Mr Makepeace told the jury he had also seen Mr Stocking getting out of his vehicle to open a set of gates leading to private parking.
"I continued to drive past Reg. I pulled up outside my home and got out of the car. I heard a bang and thought there was something up," he said.
"I turned around and started to walk back up the street. I saw what looked like a bundle of rags in the middle of the road. Of course it wasn't a bundle of rags at all - it was Reg."
Mr Makepeace said when he had got closer to his friend there had been two Polish men already trying to help the injured pensioner.
"I asked them if they had phoned for an ambulance and they said yes. They had a phone with them and handed it to me. They asked me to speak to the ambulance operator because their English was not very good."
Mr Makepeace described Mr Stocking as being in a 'very bad state'.
"Reg was semi-conscious and was bleeding from the mouth and the back of his head. I tried to ease him around a bit. He was moaning and his legs were damaged."
Mr Jas Mann, defending Jones, asked Mr Makepeace if he got a clear view of the man standing at the lamppost.
"I could not say for sure the figure was male but that was the impression I got," he said.
Mr Makepeace said with the clothes he was wearing the man looked like he was 'reasonably well-built'.
"He wore dark clothing. Other than that I could not say." he added.
Detective Constable James Ashcroft, one of the leading officers in the investigation, told the court Mr Stocking's Peugeot had later been found in Walter Street, West Bromwich.
The trial continues.
