A thug savagely beat his victim so badly the elderly man remains in hospital almost three months after the unprovoked assault.
Richard Merry, 65, was left for dead by the callous attacker, who beat him to the ground and left him in a bush – where he lay undiscovered for nine hours.
He was left with a laceration to his left ear, cuts to his head and face, damage to eye sockets and cracked ribs.
Retired Richard has also suffered brain injuries, and doctors fear he may not make a full recovery.
Richard was attacked in Ealing, west London, between 2:00 and 3:00am on September 13, but was not discovered until 12:30, when workmen saw him lying in an area of grass.
He is a ‘born and bred’ Londoner, from Wimbledon, single and a retired painter and decorator.
CCTV shows Richard arguing with an unknown male, and police are appealing for witnesses to identify the man in the image.
DC Joe Cato of Ealing CID said: “Mr Merry was the victim of a vicious assault and then left outside to be found hours later.
“He has agreed to be named, and for an image of his injuries to be released, to support our appeal for witnesses and information.
“I would urge anyone who can recognise the man shown in the CCTV still, or has other information that may assist the inquiry, to call police.”