A HUDDERSFIELD man today told how he was left for dead when he was robbed in Spain. Robin Hedderly, 63, of Almondbury, said a one-inch spike was thrust into the corner of his eye and into his brain.

"I think it was a knuckle-duster or something," he said.

Eminent psychologist Robin Hedderly, 63, from Almondbury, was savagely beaten by the robber as he was preparing to leave a restaurant in Barcelona on April 15.

Now he is recovering at home. Mr Hedderly, who is Kirklees Council's former chief educational psychologist, and his wife had been on a cruise which stopped off in the city, the capital of Catalonia.

He said: "At first a dog came up and tried to bite me. Some shopping fell out of a bag and when I went to pick it up a man tapped me on the shoulder. Then he punched me."

The grandfather had been attacked by a thug wearing a vicious knuckle- duster and was knocked out. He later learned the robber had continued his assault.

Mr Hedderly added: "There were about 30 people within 10 feet of me.

"It was in broad daylight in a nice restaurant. It seems he was wearing steel toe-capped boots and when he was restrained by other people he continued to kick out at me."

The robber managed to break free and flee in a getaway car parked nearby - but not before he picked up his dog. The man made off with just 15 euros, the equivalent of £10.

Mr Hedderly was rushed to hospital in Barcelona with serious head injuries. He spent five days in a critical condition in intensive care before being transferred to a high dependency unit for just over a week.

He was then transferred to the UK, where he was in a specialist neurological ward in a Leeds hospital for a week. Mr Hedderly said his memory was affected by the attack, but is now back to normal.

In a chilling twist Mr Hedderly discovered from the Spanish authorities that CCTV had been installed near the restaurant just 10 days earlier - following a similar attack in which a tourist had died.

He added: "I know I'm lucky to be alive. They caught the man who attacked me shortly after the attack.

"A judge came to see me in hospital and told me it was likely he would not go before the courts for about two- and-a-half-years.

"He was released on bail. Victims in Spain have a say on which charge should be put. I said I thought it should be attempted murder."

Mr Hedderly said he was surprised when he returned home to find scores of cards and good wishes. He added: "I received letters and cards from all sections of the community, including friends, fellow Rotarians, former work colleagues, clients and schools.

"I was amazed. I have had letters from all over the world and even from people I have never met who have used materials I developed when I worked for Kirklees Education Service.

"I would just like to thank everybody who wished me well."