By Eric White
ESSEX Police are investigating an aggravated burglary in which an elderly man was struck with a metal bar.
Officers were called at 10.20pm on Saturday May 21 to a house in the Hillcrest Road area of Horndon-on-the-Hill.
The suspect had left the scene when officers arrived. Officers and the police helicopter searched the area but did not find him.
The victim, a 68-year-old man, had confronted the man after finding him inside his house.
He was hit on the head with a metal bar and was taken to hospital for treatement to serious head injuries that are not believed to be life threatening.
The man left the house empty-headed and ran off towards the centre of the village.
He is described as white, aged in his thirties with dark brown hair in a short crew cut style that comes onto a point on his forehead.
He is around 5ft 9in or 10in tall with a medium build and was wearing a black jacket and black trousers.
Investigating officer DS Natalia Ross said: "We urgently need to find and arrest this man and I would appeal for anyone who has any information which could help us or who knows who our suspect is to get in touch.
"Although the victim was badly injured it appears he is likely to be okay in the long run but he will be in hospital for some time receiving treatment.
"To find a stranger in your own home, who is prepared to use such violence, must be everyone’s worst nightmare and I want to find the man responsible as quickly as I can.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Grays CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
