A FRAIL Parkinson’s Disease sufferer who wears a mobile drip to control his pain was targeted by thugs who stole his shopping money.

Two robbers, armed with a 3ft-long tree branch, stole £90 when they attacked Stephen Bartholomew when he was walking along the old railway embankment near Thornfield Crescent, Little Hulton, on Monday at 11.50am.

Mr Bartholomew, aged 60, said: “I had just gone for a walk when I saw these two lads walking towards me.

“One of them had a tree branch in his hand and he told me to empty my pockets.”

Mr Bartholomew needs the drip, which is attached to a machine on his belt, to help manage his pain.

He was carrying £90 in cash as he was intending to do some shopping, but fearing the men would attack him and that his medical condition would worsen, he gave them the money.

Mr Bartholomew, who also suffers from a prolapsed disc, was not injured, but has been left distressed by the attack.

The former metal worker, from Little Hulton said: “I’m annoyed with myself for going down there with so much money and I’m a bit shaky now.”

The muggerswere white, aged about 19, 6ft tall and very thin with short, dark hair. They were wearing dark clothing.