A DISABLED man was attacked and robbed in his own home by vicious thugs who beat him with his walking stick.

The men approached Richard Mathis’ home in Victoria Road, Southend, after they saw a car for sale on the driveway. When Mr Mathis, 58, let them in, they brutally attacked him as he sat defenceless on the sofa.

He said: “It all happened within about three or four minutes. We were talking about the car, and the next moment, one of them grabbed hold of me.

“One of them grabbed my stick and hit me, which cut me under the eye. I put my hands up to protect myself, which is when they grabbed my wallet.”

Mr Mathis could offer little defence as he had a hip replacement and is still waiting for the other joint to be done.

The men took his wallet containing between £800 and £900 and a wooden box containing jewellery worth about £1,200.

The three men struck at about on 9.30pm Monday, but they had already been to see the car, which belonged to his tenant.

Mr Mathis said: “Obviously, they were just checking things out.”

Police found his walking stick in Manilla Road, Southend, and the empty wallet in Hamstel Road, Southend.

Mr Mathis is now offering a £300 reward for information leading to the arrest of the three men.

They were all white, in their twenties, and spoke with local accents.

Det Con Nick Brunton, of Southend CID, said: “This was a particularly callous and unnecessary attack on a vulnerable man in his own home.

“We have numerous lines of inquiry to follow, but would appeal for members of the public to get in touch if they have any information.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Southend CID on 0300 3334444.