Joanna Sugden
A soldier was attacked and left in a critical condition hours after returning home from a tour of Afghanistan yesterday.
David Grout, a 22-year-old married father of one, was celebrating his homecoming with his mother and stepfather at the Eston Institute and Workmen's club in Teeside after a two month tour of Helmand province.
The soldier, who serves with the Royal Signals, left the club shortly after 6.30pm for a cigarette and was confronted on the street by two men. One punched him to the ground and left him with serious head injuries.
Detective Sergeant Colin Helyer said: "From witnesses who have told us about David's body language it appears that he knew his attackers.
"I do not think this incident is in any way connected to David's service in the Army".
The attack was not planned and the assailants waited for some time while the soldier lay unconscious before they left, Det Sgt Helyer added.
"I believe the person who has done this knows David and knows his family. I would ask this person to come forward".
Signalman Grout, who is married to Kerry with whom he has a 20-month-old son, sustained internal bleeding in the brain after what police described as "an unprovoked attack".
Detectives are seeking two white men in their early 20s seen running from the area. One was wearing a white tracksuit and the other had a grey hoody and white tracksuit bottoms.
The victim, who is based at Catterick garrison, was taken to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. His condition was described as “critical” and his family were at his bedside.
Signalman Grout's grandfather, a widower and former steelworker from Eston, said his grandson had been out celebrating with his mother Maureen and her new husband, David's stepfather, Ian Harrison, in the hours before the attack.
Pam Gardner, stewardess of the Eston Institute, said: "The first I knew anything had happened was at 12.15am when the police came banging on the door," she said.
"I just came in to lock up and had no idea anything had happened but they had police tape sealing off the alley next to the club and the area around The Miners Arms".
She added: "The lad's family are from around here and it is awful to hear that he is very poorly in hospital.
"To think he's come back from fighting in Afghanistan to this is just shameful".
Anyone with information connected to the attack is asked to call Detective Sergeant Paul Husband on 01642 302626.
Times Online
