A 73-year-old man in Sutton was attacked after confronting an e-scooter rider for "breaking the law".

After a heart operation in 2021, doctors advised Anthony Marston to go on a walk every day.

But on August 22, Anthony's walk took a turn when he confronted a man illegally riding an electric scooter on the pavement.

The 73-year-old pensioner told Your Local Guardian: “On that Thursday morning, I walked to the north end of Sutton High Street before walking south through the pedestrian zone to Cheam Road.

“But when I was walking up St Nicholas Way, I encountered a man riding towards me on an electric scooter on the pavement, which I know is illegal.

“So, I stood my ground, held up my hand, and ordered him to stop.”

Anthony says he explained that it was a criminal offence to ride an electric scooter on the pavement.

Anthony added: “He stopped but gave me a dirty look.

“I repeated my statement and then he reached for his mobile phone as though he was going to contact somebody.

“So, I reached for my mobile phone because I was about to take his photograph.

“And the next thing I remember, I was being helped off the ground by some passersby.”

The man had punched Anthony in the face and knocked him to the ground.

The back of his head hit the road, and he was bleeding “profusely”, and his face was “heavily bruised".

By the time he’d regained consciousness, the man on the electric scooter had disappeared.

Anthony explained: “The passersby brought out a chair from Halfords and I sat down as they brought some tissues to start staunching the flow of blood from the back of my head."

Emergency services were called to the scene where they took down Anthony and eyewitnesses’ statements, before Anthony was taken to St Helier Hospital.

Anthony had stitches put on the back of his head and a CAT scan to make sure he hadn’t suffered any brain injuries.

Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, privately-owned e-scooters are illegal to use on public roads and pavements.

Anthony explained that since doing his daily walks on Sutton High Street, he’s seen this law broken several times.

He said: “I see people on e-scooters at least once a week.

“I’ve seen young teenagers, middle-aged men, people carrying passengers, even parents carrying a child on an electric scooter.”

He claims to have reported these occurrences to the police, but says he was told that there wasn’t much they can do about it.

He added: “When I’ve confronted people, they don’t believe me that it’s a criminal offence.”

Police have carried out several enquiries and are looking at CCTV in the area and speaking with witnesses.

Anthony posed this message to his attacker: “I would like you to hand yourself into the police.

“I’m also asking why you thought it was necessary to punch me in the face and knock me to the ground when I was pointing out that you were actually breaking the law.”

Anthony added: “I wasn’t going to beat him up because he was breaking the law.

“I just wanted to point out that he was breaking the law, and, if necessary, I would have pointed him to the web page that says that he is causing an offence and inconveniencing other people.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information is encouraged to call 101 quoting CAD 1857/22AUG24.