This is the moment a man pushed a defenseless pensioner to the ground after complaining the library was ‘too noisy’ for reading.
Michael Johnson, 37, shouted at the 80-year-old stranger before using both hands to forcefully shove him outside the public library.
The pensioner falls to the ground and hits his head on the concrete in CCTV footage captured by local businesses in Salisbury, Wiltshire.
The man’s wife and members of the public are seen running to his aid as Johnson continues to shout at the group from the library entrance.
He fled the scene when witnesses called emergency services and administered first aid to the pensioner, who lay motionless on the ground.
The man was left with a deep cut on his forehead and pain in his hips and arms.
According to police, there had been no interaction between the two before the attack. Johnson was later tracked down and arrested as he attempted to leave town.
He initially refused to comment during police interviews before later admitting to the attack and blaming it on his mental health.
Michael Johnson, 37, shouted at the 80-year-old stranger before using both hands to forcefully shove him outside the public library (pictured)
The man’s wife comes to his aid after he hits his head on the concrete
Johnson (pictured) said he became frustrated because it was too loud in the library to read
During police interviews, Johnson (pictured left) initially refused to comment before later admitting to the attack which he said was due to his mental health
Johnson said he became frustrated because it was too loud in the library to read.
Detective Sergeant Joshua Bliss said the man’s injuries could have been worse.
He said: “This is a senseless attack where Michael Johnson attacked a man in his 80s, leaving him with serious facial injuries.
‘The victim was unknown to the suspect and there was no interaction before the assault. The victim did not even look in the direction of the suspect before he was attacked and assaulted.
‘The suspect has not given a reason for the attack other than saying he was struggling with his mental health and was frustrated about noise in the library.
‘The victim is vulnerable due to his age, so his injuries could have been significantly worse.’
DS Bliss thanked witnesses who took action after the attack.
‘I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the many members of the public who witnessed the attack and immediately intervened to chase the perpetrator away.
‘The same members of the public provided essential first aid to the victim until emergency services arrived.
‘I would also like to thank local businesses in Salisbury city center who supported our investigation by allowing us access to their CCTV systems, which allowed us to track the suspect’s movements and get a clear view of his face.
“This tremendous community support gave us the resources to quickly locate and arrest Johnson.”
Johnson, who was of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty at Swindon Magistrates’ Court to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He will be sentenced on October 21.
