THE kindness of a stranger brought a smile back to Nial Mackenzie’s face.

The disabled 23-year-old was robbed of his PlayStation 3 when hooded thugs burst into his home and assaulted his dad.

But after his story appeared in the Oxford Mail last month, a woman – who wished to remain anonymous – has replaced the games console.

Nial, who has Down’s syndrome, said: “I am surprised. It’s a very good gesture. It’s really nice to be back with a PS3.”

His father George had kept the news from his son until the Mail presented Nial with the console and two games on Saturday at the family’s home in Priors Forge in Cutteslowe, North Oxford.

He said: “We really do appreciate what has happened.

“It reaffirms my faith in human kindness that there are people out there like this. Overall, people are good.

“I am quite humbled by it because it’s a nice feeling to know there are people out there who are good people.”

He added: “There is no way I would have been able to afford to buy him another one.”

Last month Mr Mackenzie told the Oxford Mail how three teenagers forced their way into his house and punched him four times in the face, splitting his lip open and shouting: “Where’s the money?”.

The father was threatened with a gas canister and about £20 of Nial’s lunch money was also stolen in the raid last month.

The 52-year-old, who is currently unemployed, said he suspected the youths had mistaken him for someone else.

But he said his son had been lost without his PlayStation after the robbery.

He said: It really hit home when he came in and literally just sat on the sofa staring at the table where it used to be. It was quite sad.

“It’s just brilliant for him because it gives him an escape and a focus. And he’s actually very good at some of the games.”

Police had last night not made any arrests in connection with the attack on Tuesday, May 21.

  • Anyone with any information about the attack should call police on 101, or the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555111