Skewer victim's cash stash

Det Chief Insp Matt Ward said whoever was responsible for stabbing Leslie Ince, aged 80, with the 14-inch long weapon did not appear to have stolen anything from his house based in St Ives Road, Park Hall, Walsall.

And burglary did not appear to be the motive. He has joined Mr Ince's family in making a fresh appeal for help to solve the crime.

He also revealed a £5,000 reward has also been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible.

Mr Ince is in a critical but stable condition at Heartlands Hospital in Birmingham where his family have maintained a bedside vigil.

Police believe Mr Ince knew his attacker.

DCI Ward said: "There was several thousands of pounds in Les's pillowcase which suggested they had not even gone upstairs.

"There was no sign of forced entry although there was evidence of a disturbance inside the property."

Mr Ince, a former Barnado's boy, was filmed going about his business by street CCTV in Walsall town centre on February 17 and was last seen washing his car by a neighbour the next day.

He was discovered on February 21 by his worried son Peter, who had gone to visit after not hearing from his father for three days. He flagged down a passing police patrol car then forced opened a door to get inside.

His daughter Stephanie has left her home in Canada to be with her father and said she was particularly troubled by the police theory that Mr Ince must have known his attacker as it was possible she knew them too.

The case was featured on BBC's Crimewatch last night and presenter Nick Ross carried out a re-enactment of the stabbing using a dummy and an x-ray image of the skewer which narrowly missed Mr Ince's vital organs was also shown.

Mr Ince had suffered a stroke before he was found lying on his back in a cupboard under the stairs. Anyone with information should call 0845 113 5000.