THE sister of a father-of-three beaten into a coma during a vicious gang attack in New Addington has told Crimewatch she needs a "hero" to give the police new information.
Speaking during a reconstruction aired this evening, Zowey Hayward said her brother Gary – who needs full-time care in a rehabilitation centre – cannot fight for justice himself.
Zowey said: "Who wants people like that walking the street? Whoever does speak up is a hero in my book."
The reconstruction showed how Gary's mother Wendie had held a barbecue on October 2, 2011, the day of the attack.
Several family members were invited, including ex-husband John, who left the party at around 6pm.
A few hours later he went to the Booze Bank in Central Parade. Some youths, who had been hassling him for months, began to intimidate him again.
"That's when I felt a bit frightened," said John. "I got into the shop and I phoned Gary's mum."
Wendie sent a family member to help John out of the shop and past the youths who had blocked him in. Concerned, she also sent Gary, 29, to see what was going on.
When he arrived, John pointed to the youths, who were waiting by New Addington Library. Gary walked up to them and confronted them about the harassment.
By the time John caught up with his son, he was already laying in the road having been attacked by the youths.
John said: "He got up and shouted at the them: 'Leave my dad alone'.
"Then we saw all these other youths coming from the other end of the Parade.
"I remember them knocking Gary to the ground and beating him all the time, non-stop. They were beating me as well. At that point I decided to lay still."
John pretended to be unconscious and the youths fled into the estate. Shortly afterwards Wendie and other family members arrived.
"I was covered from head to foot in blood," said John. "Gary's mum was crying."
"He was choking, covered in blood. I went on to my knees and held him," explained Wendie.
"When I looked at him I thought he couldn't recover from it."
John added: "We never thought he would make it to hospital to tell the truth. The ambulance crew were amazed that he made it to hospital alive."
Gary was taken to King's College Hospital where he underwent an emergency procedure to remove a blood clot from his brain.
He appeared to be making a full recovery but in November fell out of bed while in Princess Royal University Hospital, Bromley, and his condition deteriorated.
Gary underwent an operation to remove fluid from his brain and, since then, has been "asleep", his brain having shut itself down due to the trauma. He now requires full-time care in a specialist rehabilitation centre and may never fully recover.
John said his son had a "wide circle of friends", adding: "Everyone knew him and loved him."
Zowey said: "If I went anywhere people would say 'Oh, you're Gary Hayward's sister. He's a lovely bloke'. He was just so funny. Everyone loved being around him."
Detective Inspector Simon Harding, leading the investigation, said it is not too late for people to come forward.
He reiterated the £20,000 reward for information leading to a conviction and also appealed for information on the whereabouts of a camera John used to take pictures of those involved, which was stolen during the attack.
Zowey said: "The best outcome is that Gary gets his justice. Gary can't fight for it himself."
Anyone with information is urged to call or Croydon CID on 020 3276 2264Crimestoppers Anonymously on 0800 555 111.
