Catapult victim loses eye

A 20-YEAR-OLD man lost an eye in a catapult attack after he disturbed three men who were breaking into a friend's car.

One of the men fired a stone at Paul Swaine, a student, as he and a group of friends chased the thieves into woods after hearing the car's window being smashed in Wimborne, Dorset.

Mr Swaine, of Wimborne, was taken to the Westbourne Eye Hospital in Bournemouth but doctors were unable to save his eye.

The attack was condemned yesterday by Detective Inspector Steve Burfitt, who is leading the investigation.

He said it was a 'particularly callous and calculated attack on a young man who, in a public spirited manner, was trying to protect his friend's property'.