Disabled Bolton Wanderers fan hospitalised after vicious attack

A disabled Bolton Wanderers fan had to be hospitalised after he suffered a vicious attack, which has left him living in fear.

The diehard Trotters supporter, named Johnathan Morris, was ‘viciously’ assaulted outside a chip shop in Bolton on the 1st of August, and he is now “scared to leave home”.

He had been planning to meet his friend at Olympus fish and chip restaurant on Great Moor Street, where he shockingly got attacked by two men.

The culprits “repeatedly kicked and stamped on his head”, according to the fan’s sister-in-law, Sasha Hamilton, as mentioned by The Bolton News.

This incident took place just after 10pm with Johnathan having to crawl to the nearby bus stop where a driver was able to help him to safety.

He ended up being taken to Royal Bolton Hospital with the “severe injuries”.

The 27-year-old suffers from Noonan Syndrome, which is condition like Down’s Syndrome, and has a number of learning difficulties.

His sister-in-law Sasha said: “Johnathan doesn’t have a bad bone in his body.

“He helps children with Bolton Wanderers volunteers and he normally dresses as Lofty the Lion on matchdays and is a huge fan of the club. The football is everything to him.

“He is kind-hearted and it has taken him years to create independence to go out for a few drinks around town – and he loves listening to music.”

Since the incident, the the League One club’s fanbase has helped and shown support to Johnathan, who has been given a Bolton Wanderers season ticket as well as memorabilia.

And although that has eased the pain of what he went through, psychologically, he is afraid of the world we live in, worried about going out in public.

Sasha added: “I am angry, shocked, upset – I feel a mixture of emotions really.

“But I have to keep strong for Johnathan.

“Thank you to everyone for your support on social media for standing by Johnathan and knowing him as such a friendly and funny guy despite his disability.

“Hopefully as a family we can help him get his independence back.”

Johnathan has had a brain scan to see if there was anymore damage from the attack, though thankfully that came back all clear.

He does however have continual headaches, blurry vision and swelling and that’s all while he is suffering with a fractured cheek bone below his left eye socket.

Sasha Hamilton further wrote: “We know who has done it and so do the police. Just cannot be named due to legal reasons until charged. It won’t be too long now.”

It’s incredibly sad to hear what has happened to the lad, and what a horrible ordeal he had to go through.

It is so incredibly heartfelt to see how his club’s supporters have gone to the extent to help him, to make him feel better about the world we live in again, we are all one football family.

We at Fan Banter wish him all the best in his recovery.

Readers of The Bolton News gave their reaction to reading that the disabled Bolton Wanderers fan was hospitalised after enduring a vicious attack…

Kentish boy: Somebody knows the animals that did this. Names to crime stoppers please. Hope the poor lad recovers quickly and manages to overcome the mental scars.

albertmodley: Thats interesting observation. If you are right and they are animals,such as a dog out of control, do you think the courts would order them to be put down? I think for the good of society they should do, dont you?

Notlob1: Scum.

Rememberscarborough: Hope hell exists because that’s where these scum are going. Good luck to this bloke and hope he can see there are many good people out there not just one or two animals.

Loving life in Lostock: These men need to be found. Disgusting. They should be locked up for 20 years.

Damn and blast: What on earth possess someone to act so viciously! i hope they are found and get lengthy sentences but we know they wont don’t we.

BrazenCherry21: That’s disgusting to do a thing like that to a disabled person hope the person’s responsible for this are caught and sentenced to a prison term not no community order or a proxy fine.

__newsquest__1513746: The scrotes that did this are capable of murder and need to be caught, what about CTCV or witnesses ?

BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: How come there’s no descriptions of the two scum bags who attacked him there’s got to be cctv in that area it’s near the interchange.

ConspiracyGuy: Just puzzled why there’s no descriptions of his attackers surly there cctv or witnesses who saw this attack happening I’m not being nasty but in today’s society people see anything going on and mobile phones are pulled out and people start recording or take pictures so someone has got to have been around at that time it’s usually gangs of teenagers from that skate park up the street ?

Gabbo: hat’s going on in this town lately it’s not on especially when a disabled person can’t walk around the streets safely just hope these violent scumbags are caught and punished severely.

patton: Total thugs hope Johnathan makes a speedy recovery and has a great life

Formerly Boff Jones: What an absolute disgusting and despicable act against someone who thinks of others despite whatever difficulties he may have. I was genuinely upset to read and see the pictures of an innocent young man in obvious pain. I do hope that the evil perpetrators receive a mandatory prison sentence for such appalling behaviour. There can be no excuse for such violence and It’s satisfying to know the perpetrators are known and being investigated. I do hope Jonathan recovers fully and is not deterred from continuing leading a normal life.