AN elderly man has been left needing hospital treatment after a sickening attack.
Douglas Speirs, 71, was badly beaten during the broad daylight attack in Johnstone, Renfrewshire this afternoon.
Shocking pictures have emerged online showing the pensioner’s face covered in blood.
It is understood a row broke out over graffiti at an underpass near the town’s Spateston Road.
Mr Speirs had challenged ski mask-clad youths before he was set upon by a number of men, according to his wife.
She told The Scottish Sun: “It was teens in the tunnel doing graffiti and giving him verbal abuse. They must have contacted an older man as it was him who jumped Douglas as he walked back up the path from the tunnel.
“He punched him in the head then started kicking him in the head. If it wasn’t for our neighbour shouting at them goodness knows what would have happened to my husband.”
One resident said they spotted three men attacking the pensioner.
Cops were alerted to the violent incident around 2.35pm.
It is understood the OAP required hospital treatment following the attack.
His condition is not yet known.
Officers have launched an investigation and enquiries are continuing.
Witnesses or anyone with information has been urged to get in touch with police.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “At 2.35pm on Monday, 30 December, 2024, we received a report of the assault of a 71-year-old man at an underpass near Spateston Road, Johnstone.
“Enquiries into this are ongoing and anyone with any further information can contact 101, quoting incident number 1710 of Monday, 30 December, 2024.”