A PENSIONER was knocked unconscious by a burglar he disturbed in his home.

Richard Casse, 75, returned from a shopping trip to discover two thieves were ransacking his house.

As they fled out the front door, one of them punched him in the face, causing black eyes, a swollen jaw and bruised ribs.

The attack was on Wednesday last week. Mr Casse had returned at about noon and was unpacking groceries at his home in Kingshill Avenue, Hayes, unaware the burglars were ransacking the house.

He heard noises from upstairs and first thought they were being made by one of his grandchildren. When he stepped into the hallway, two men dashed down the stairs.

One ran out of the front door, but the other stopped to floor the pensioner before leaving.

The thieves took cash, cameras and watches and other personal valuables stuffed in carrier bags sone of which were left behind when they were forced to cut the raid short.

Mr Casse was treated by paramedics at his home. He was too traumatised to speak to the Gazette, but his granddaughter and housemate, Chantale Casse, said the attack had left him afraid to leave the house.

"My grandad is retired now, so he enjoys getting out and about and being independent," she added. "Now he won't set foot outside the front door. He is still very scared and shaken up. He's also devastated because they stole my grandma's jewellery. She died eight years ago.When I first heard the news I assumed the worst at first and thought the injuries might be life-threatening."

The thieves got in by smashing a back window. Miss Casse, who had left the house for work just 30 minutes before the attack, believes the pair had been knocking on doors in the area, pretending to be door-to-door salesmen to identify properties that people were leaving.

She added: "These people are just cowards and the whole thing just makes me sick. My grandad is a lovely man and he didn't deserve this.We were just unlucky, but we want these people caught before they do it again."

Miss Casse said the two men she had seen were scruffy and appeared to be Asian.

One was about 6ft 1in tall with a shaved head and wearing a brown leather jacket. The other was stockier, around 5ft 9in tall, with a woolie hat and also dressed in dark clothes.

Anyone with information in relation to this incident should call the police on 020 8721 7212.