By Luke Voogt
A Hamlyn Heights pensioner brutally who was assaulted at home in August is living in fear after a second attack in central Geelong.
Wally Janeczko told the Indy he was sitting in the city mall drinking a can of coke about a month ago when a man approached.
“He came up and pushed me and tried to get into my wallet,” Mr Janeczko said.
The man continued to push and harass him until police arrived, he said.
“Two police officers came around and got him away from me.”
The 67-year-old suspected the attack was connected with August’s alleged home invasion.
“But I have no way of proving it.”
Geelong police said they had no record of the mall incident.
The alleged attack comes as Mr Janeczko continued seeking compensation from Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal for the August assault.
Mr Janeczko suffered severe bruising form the allegedly home-invasion assault.
Mr Janeczko is eligible for $1300 to $3250 compensation as a victim of Category B violence.
Geelong lawyer Andrew Senia offered him pro-bono help late last year, saying Mr Janeczko deserved greater compensation given his injuries.
But the State Government’s focus on bail laws had left victims of crime “forgotten”, Mr Senia said.
“Our legislation covering compensation for innocent victims of crime is hopelessly inadequate and should immediately be reviewed and simplified by the State Government.”
Maximum compensation for Category A violence was $10,000, Mr Senia said.
“But for Category A you have to be virtually dead to qualify.”
