An elderly man with dementia was left with a black eye, cuts and bruises after being mugged while on the way to Hampstead Heath to play petanque.  

Brian Haddon had his wallet taken in the robbery on November 6.

The 82-year-old, who has early onset dementia, had left his Highgate Hill home for a regular Sunday outing.

His son, Gez Haddon, said there were "big gaps in his memory" but believes the mugging occurred on the Heath, off Highgate Road at Parliament Hill.

"My dad was jumped on, beaten up and robbed of his wallet," he said. 

"He picked himself up and staggered back home, jumping on a bus, then his partner took him to the Whittington.

"His right eye is puffed up and he had lots of cuts and bruises."

Mr Haddon had his bank card stolen, although it was cancelled before thieves withdrew money, as well as losing his watch "and a bit of pride".

Gez said his father was "a man of routine", and that on Sunday morning he had a cup of coffee in a cafe in Archway before boarding the C11 bus to Parliament Hill.

"He was hopefully going to play petanque there and it was there he got jumped, going down the path," said Gez. 

"It was a person or people targetting vulnerable old folk for a quick smash and grab.
Someone might have seen the assault and notify the police."

He said since the attack his father has "felt odd".

"He's frustrated his injuries have not healed as quickly as he'd like," he said. "He's not his usual bouncy self. He's been left vulnerable by what's happened."

The Met Police said a "third party report" of the incident was received on November 7.

A spokesperson said: "The victim, a man, aged 80s, who suffers with dementia, had left his home in Highgate at around 9am. When he returned at around 1pm he was wet, muddy and had suffered significant injuries cuts and bruising to his head and face. 

"He was also missing some of his property.

"His injuries, thankfully, were not life threatening.

Enquiries are ongoing to establish the injured man’s movements, and what happened to him, on Sunday morning.

There have been no arrests.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Tweet @MetCC quoting 1635/7NOV.

Or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.