POLICE believe a gang of youths who mugged a grandfather for his heart monitor thought the device was an iPod.

Mick Neave, who has survived five heart attacks, was beaten up in his front garden by a group of teenagers.

The boys, some of whom believed to be as young as 12, knocked the forces veteran to the floor with an iron pole before making off on bikes.

During the robbery, one of the five attackers stole Mr Neave's heart monitor, which was hanging from a clip on his belt.

"It is no good to anyone else, but it is so important to me," said the 57-year-old widower.

"It beggars belief that they could do something like this.

"Where has the respect gone in this world?"

The popular former Parachute Regiment soldier is known affectionately as Uncle Mick by neighbours at Firthmoor, Darlington.

The heart monitor was snatched from him on Sunday, at 5.55pm, while he was taking out his bins for collection. The device is used to track his pulse and is linked to a medical implant in his chest.

The grandfather of nine, who served in Aden, Cyprus and completed six tours of duty in Northern Ireland, is now waiting to hear if the monitor, which is similar in size and shape to an MP3 music player, can be replaced on the NHS.

"My grandkids are always saying my monitor looks like an iPod. They even joke that they're going to put some music on it for me.

"The kids who did this probably didn't know that I had a heart problem, but I have a bigger problem now.

"I don't feel any malice towards them, I just wish they would bring it back. It would save a lot of people a lot of trouble."

Inspector Steve Steen, of Darlington Police, said: "Mr Neave was approached by five boys aged 12 to 15. He was knocked to the floor and had his heart monitor stolen.

"It is possible they may have thought it was an iPod or a mobile phone."

The boys are described as being black or of mixed race. One was wearing a ring in his left ear. Witnesses are asked to call police with information on 0845-60-60-365.