Susie O’Brien: We have become accustomed to violence in our community

Incidents like the recent attack on a 92-year-old woman have become all too common and more must be done to prevent such senseless crimes.

An elderly woman should be safe while shopping on a suburban Melbourne street in broad daylight.

We all should be.

But there’s a growing feeling that we are in danger, both in our own homes and out on the streets.

Williamstown local Barbara, 92, is recovering at home after a brutal attack allegedly by a 39-year-old homeless man outside a Coles supermarket.

The footage is shocking and distressing to watch. It shows Barbara using her walking frame to make her way along the footpath. Her alleged attacker, Sean McLachlan, raises his arm to strike her across the chest as he walks past her, dragging her to the ground and knocking her unconscious.

CCTV footage reveals the incident in Williamstown. Picture: Facebook

Witnesses alleged the attack caused the woman to fall to the ground and lose consciousness. Picture: Facebook

This was not an accidental bump, but was seemingly a deliberate attack. He appeared intent on causing this helpless old lady harm.

Hours later, McLachlan told a magistrate to “f--k off”.

Is this really what we’ve come to?

Sadly, yes. Incidents like this are all too common.

In February an elderly man was left bleeding from a head wound after being assaulted on a tram by a drunk passenger.

In June last year a 14-year-old pushed an elderly woman off a pier, later posting footage of the so-called prank.

The teen, on bail at the time, was not given a criminal conviction over the attack.

And last May a grandmother fought off an alleged sexual predator with her walking frame in South Yarra.

We have become accustomed to violence in our community, but there is something particularly galling when the victims are defenceless elderly people.

More must be done to prevent such senseless crimes, whether random public attacks or brutal home invasions.

Originally published as Susie O’Brien: We have become accustomed to violence in our community