He immediately began threatening us. I asked him what this was about but I could not understand what he was saying, as there were too many profanities blurring his speech.

I told him to go away and calm down. My wife made to stand up, using her walking stick – she had a full knee reconstruction just six weeks before – to give him a good talking to.

He grabbed her walking stick and broke it over his knee. He hit her on the right wrist with it, the wrist which had previously been broken and had a surgical pin in it.

He then grabbed her phone and threw it down the garden, continuing to scream and shout.

I have had two back operations, two intestinal operations, a triple heart bypass, and am awaiting another back operation. I knew I was no match for him.

My phone was in the house, so I went there, quickly, and phoned triple zero. The lady who answered was a great help and in a matter of minutes two police cars and two ambulances arrived.

By this time, of course, our grandson had gone.

My wife laid charges and our statements were taken. My wife was taken to the emergency ward at Orange hospital where they determined her wrist was either broken or chipped.

The doctors and staff at the hospital were really professional and comforting. We didn’t leave the hospital until 1am the next morning and had to get a taxi home.

Next day we went to the police station and my wife made a video interview. At this stage there was no sign of any other witnesses.

We left and went back to our state of residence, and awaited the outcome of the police charge.

The NSW police phoned about a week after and told us that three other witnesses had given statements saying my wife had hit him with her walking stick, which was completely ludicrous as she would have fallen over, as her right hip had only been replaced three years prior.

These witnesses, who definitely were not there when the assault happened, were believed. One is the attacker’s brother, another is his sister's boyfriend, and the other is his girlfriend.

Our statements did not count, and the case would not be proceeded with due to lack of evidence and these other witnesses statements.

I do not envy the police their job, seeing this type of thing more and more, and knowing the attackers are working the system to their advantage by lying and walking away free.

He walked away unscathed, yet my wife had to go to emergency hospital and be X-rayed and treated for six hours.

How can an elderly lady, recovering from a full knee construction, who cannot walk without her hollow tin walking stick, be a serious threat to a young man who is extremely fit?

This senseless violence has to stop. It's not a rare occurrence anymore. It's not the criminal element fighting with each other anymore.

Our emergency services personnel are attending more and more violent acts not only on the citizenry but also on themselves.

This is a greater threat to our society than terrorism. Once upon a time family was everything – we need to get back there.

We are now safely home and will never venture to Orange again.