Geelong West man, 74, allegedly randomly assaulted by known thug in January

A man who allegedly stabbed a person on a quiet Geelong street is accused of a similarly savage attack on an elderly man months earlier.

The alleged assault took place on Albert Street in Geelong West. Photo: Google Maps.

A man who allegedly stabbed a person on a quiet Geelong street is accused of a similarly savage attack on an elderly man months earlier.

It can be revealed the alleged offender, who the Geelong Advertiser has chosen not to name, is accused of assaulting a 75-year-old man on Albert Street in Geelong West in January, with the victim hospitalised and suffering paralysed vocal chords.

It comes as another neighbour reportedly saw the same alleged thug, who was believed to be squatting at a vacant house on the same street – “sharpen knives” on her fence.

“My husband noticed this man urinating out the front of our house,” she said.

“He is a gentleman and approached him to ask, very mildly, what he was doing and this guy just viciously punched him in the throat.

“It was like a karate chop. He said nothing and just walked off.”

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said Geelong officers were still investigating the incident, which happened on January 10.

She said the offender “punched the 75-year-old and ran from the scene.”

“The offender is described as caucasian in appearance, 40-years-old with a short, sharp haircut,” she said.

“No arrests have been made.”

The elderly man is still receiving treatment and has been left traumatised by the alleged assault.

His wife said he “struggles to talk” such was the ferocity of the blow.

“This man caused all sorts of problems on our street and the neighbourhood,” she said.

“He is dangerous. The fact he was walking the streets and hurt someone else is both alarming and distressing.”

It comes as the city grapples with a rise in knife crime, which was recently addressed by Geelong CIU Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Guthrie.

Geelong CIU Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Guthrie. Picture: Alan Barber

He said the recent spate of violence was being taken “very seriously”.

“I don’t think it (knife crime) is up any more than it has been anywhere else, there has just been, over the last month, some ones that have occurred,” he said.

“We have stepped up patrols. around Geelong.”

“If anyone has any information about people who have got weapons, whether it is knives, guns or any other weapons, come forward.”

Originally published as Geelong West man, 74, allegedly randomly assaulted by known thug in January