Concerns for homeless man seriously injured in Doncaster town centre doorway assault

A homeless man was taken to hospital with serious head injuries after he was attacked in Doncaster town centre.
A scene of crime officer on Printing Office Street, DoncasterA scene of crime officer on Printing Office Street, Doncaster
A scene of crime officer on Printing Office Street, Doncaster
A scene of crime officer on Printing Office Street, DoncasterA scene of crime officer on Printing Office Street, Doncaster
A scene of crime officer on Printing Office Street, Doncaster
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The man, named locally as ‘Carl’, was taken to Doncaster Royal Infirmary after the incident, which happened in the early hours of yesterday morning.

It is understood he is one of a number of homeless people who are frequently sighted in the doorway of the British Heart Foundation shop on Printing Office Street.

The blood stained doorway - part of the former Co-op building - was sealed off by police as they carried out investigations.

Police confirmed the site had been the scene of an assault and officers had made an arrest in connection with the incident.

A scene of crime officer on Printing Office Street, DoncasterA scene of crime officer on Printing Office Street, Doncaster
A scene of crime officer on Printing Office Street, Doncaster
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An officer in a patrol car was at the scene at 7am yesterday. Police tape was stretched around lamp posts and a second car turned up shortly afterwards.

By 11am, further specialist officers were on the scene, marking out the crime scene and taking measurements. Blood could be seen on one of the steps.

Also lying in the doorway yesterday was some bedding, cardboard, a plastic bag and a polystyrene cup.

South Yorkshire Police Insp Lynne Lancaster said: “We had a report of a male being assaulted in the early hours of the morning. A suspect is currently in custody.”

A scene of crime officer on Printing Office Street, DoncasterA scene of crime officer on Printing Office Street, Doncaster
A scene of crime officer on Printing Office Street, Doncaster
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There was no suggestion any weapon was involved in the incident.

Cheryl Love, a waitress at one of the cafes on the street near the crime scene, said Carl was well-known locally.

She said: “We’ve not heard how he is.

“But we speak to him usually on a daily basis, and take him cups of tea and coffee. We heard he was attacked and got serious head injuries.

A scene of crime officer on Printing Office Street, DoncasterA scene of crime officer on Printing Office Street, Doncaster
A scene of crime officer on Printing Office Street, Doncaster

“He’s a lovely fellow. He doesn’t do drink or drugs, he’s just homeless.

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“Everyone is really upset about it. His homeless friends are really angry.

“A lot of customers come in and buy sandwiches for them, or leave money for them to buy sandwiches.

One town centre worker arriving in town yesterday said: “You see a group of homeless people in that doorway most mornings. I just really hope that they are all right.”