An 80-year-old man has been left "shaken" after reportedly being attacked at a petrol station by a member of staff while trying to fill up his school bus.
The daughter of Keith Murgatroyd said she was left "utterly sickened" after finding out from police officers that a staff member had allegedly followed him onto his bus when he went to enquire about petrol prices and struck him in the back of the head.
Mr Murgatroyd has been running his own coach business, Murgatroyd's Coaches, and taking children to school in the Harrogate area of Yorkshire for over 50 years, which has gained him the title of a "local legend", reports Yorkshire Live.
His daughter Sophie Murgatroyd said that he went to the petrol station on September 26 in preparation for the week ahead and found that there was a limit on the amount that HGVs could have as a result of the recent rushes to buy fuel in the UK.
Sophie, who is currently caring for her father, said: "He went in to ask if the £30 limit could be removed and the cashier said he couldn't.
"Dad went back to the bus to get his wallet to pay. He went up the steps and this man had followed him and punched him in the back of the head. He then turned him around and punched him multiple times in the face.
"Luckily there were plenty of people and some were able to get him off of my dad."
Sophie said that the footage was caught on CCTV and there were numerous witnesses who gave statements to the police after they arrived. Police have said that investigations are ongoing and an arrest has not yet been made.
Sophie said: "My dad was left shaken as you can imagine and I'm absolutely rattled that somebody has done a premeditated attack against an old man.
"That's what I can't get my head around at all. Dad is very hard of hearing and he would not say boo to a goose.
"Getting a phone call saying my dad's been attacked is the worst call I've ever received."
She added: "We are extremely close as a family and we have rallied around dad but I'm utterly sickened that someone has looked at my dad and thought they would hurt him.
"I want some answers as to what kind of man looks at an 80-year-old and would want to attack them."
She said that the petrol station was "extremely busy" with people queuing to fill up their cars at the time.
Sophie said: "I know we are in a world where everybody's stressed. We have just got out of lockdown and now facing a fuel crisis but it doesn't give anyone a right to attack an 80-year-old man."
She said: "It's definitely knocked his confidence. He's a very proud man and just doesn't understand why anyone would want to hurt him.
"You can see he gets emotional when he talks about it."
A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Police said: "A man is helping police with enquiries following the incident and the investigation is ongoing. Currently no charges have been brought."
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