Blind pensioner attacked in home burglary speaks out

Peter Chapman, 77, was listening to the radio on his specially-adapted tablet when Tommy O’Leary - described in court as a 'career burglar' - snuck into his home through an unlocked door and struck him with two beer bottles, causing blood to pour out of his head.

O’Leary, 50, of Colson Close, Winchester, was jailed for 12 years on 15 June at Southampton Crown Court, following the incident on March 26.

Peter Chapman, 77, using his especially adapted tablet at his home (Image: Newsquest)

Now, Peter has shared his experience of the ordeal to the Echo - and said he will not let what has happened to him dampen his spirit.

Describing the assault, he said: “At first I thought there was water coming out of the ceiling; it all happened very quickly.

"It was only later that I realised I had been hit with two bottles of beer.”

READ MORE: Southampton gang jailed for burglaries across Hampshire

Following the attack, O’Leary decided to rob his bleeding victim.

Peter said: “He reached out to me and put his hand on my right pocket, probably thinking I had my wallet in it. What he didn’t know was that I’m left-handed and had kept it in my left pocket.

“I tried to push him, to get him away from me, but then as I did that, he grabbed my tablet. It was still playing the radio as he walked out."

Peter Chapman, 77 said he won't be intimidated after being attacked in his own home (Image: Newsquest)

'I yelled for help from my door hoping my neighbour or someone else would hear me'

A few minutes after the burglary - having composed himself - the 77-year-old 'gingerly' walked out of his house, begging for help.

He said: "I yelled for help from my door, hoping my neighbour or someone else would hear me. I went outside and yelled again and nobody came.

“I knocked on my neighbour's door next to me and thankfully, they opened the door. They thought I had fallen over. They took me in and one of them called 999 while my other neighbour cleaned my face.”

The incident led Peter to fear for his safety in the months that followed the attack as he no longer could leave the door open for friends down his road, who would often visit.

But now, he said he has a new outlook on life: “I have realised I can’t be scared of these people and won’t be intimidated by them, especially because the person responsible for all this is now in jail.”

Peter said it was a surprise when he found out O'Leary had been jailed - and celebrated with drink that was certainly symbolic: "When he was given 12 years, I celebrated with a bottle of beer. I had no knowledge of sentences, I thought he would be given maybe two or three years.”