A pensioner was today in hospital after a run in with a gang of youths. Jack Rumpole, 74, is said to be in a "serious, but stable" condition. The incident happened yesterday in Stupton, a leafy suburb of Milton Keynes at around 10am. Mr Rumpole was alerted to the fact that a group of up to 6 youths were loitering in the lane at the back of his home wearing the uniform of local school Her Majesty of the Holy Conception. Mr Rumpole, a former headmaster of the school, apparently confronted the youths with the intention of telling them to attend class. His neighbour, and long time friend, Mike Michaels, who witnessed the event said "Roger was out the back like a shot when I told him there were kids in the lane dogging it. He's a strict disciplinarian, and places a high value of the importance of education. Unfortunately, he didnt realise the original of meaning the phrase "dogging it" has changed over the years, from playing truant. He wasn't prepared for what he saw." Whilst the youths, approximately 2 girls and 4 boys, were indeed playing truant, it appears they were also involved in acts of a sexual nature in the back of a beige Ford Cortina. Several of the youths were watching as up to 3 of the group romped in the back seat. Contrversial local MP, Phil Meechan, today condemned the incident as "a bloody old pervert sticking his nose where it wasn't wanted" before adding that "dogging is now an accepted part of society".