A man's quick thinking actions alerted the police to a horrifying burglary as robbers kicked and tied up their victim.
Thomas Donoghue, of Garland Road, in Huyton, along with Michael Brown, of Cae Dau Caravan Park, in Denbigh, and Warren Jennings, of Stockbridge Village, all appeared before Mold Crown Court in North Wales after being charged with robbery. They demanded cash and threatened to slash a defenceless man's face with a screwdriver if he did not tell them where it was.
The court heard how the men entered a "secluded" Hawarden estate, in Flintshire, North Wales, belonging to Neil Futcher in the early hours of October 12 last year. The occupant was alone and speaking to his partner on the phone when he noticed something outside as the men disturbed some dogs who began to bark, NorthWalesLive reports.
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Mr Futcher went to investigate and came "face-to-face" with the intruders when he was struck with what he believes to be a rock, then "kicked" by all three men as they asked "where's the money?" They dragged him into his home while continuing to hit him.
Donoghue was described as the "ringleader" of the horrific attack which left Mr Fletcher unable to feel safe in his own home and he is now in the process of selling the property. In a statement read out in court he said he is in "constant fear" of becoming a victim again.
The court was told how the victim threw his phone under a car, his partner heard everything and alerted police. The court heard that, inside the house, Mr Futcher had blood "pouring" from his face as he was pulled upstairs and thrown onto a bed face down and tied up using an electrical cord.
One of the men held what was later found to be a screwdriver to Mr Futcher's face and told him "if you don't tell us where the money is, we're going to slit open your face one side to the other". In an attempt to put an end to the ordeal, Mr Futcher said that they could have anything but stressed he had no cash in the house.
Police eventually turned up to find Mr Futcher tied up on his blood-stained bed and officers came face-to-face with the three men inside the property as they were coming down the stairs. Despite Brown and Donoghue trying to escape, all three were arrested and declined to comment when interviewed.
Defending Donoghue, Mr Andrew Green said his client recognised it was a "very serious matter". He understood prison was "inevitable".
Judge Rhys Rowlands jailed the men for a combined 26 years. Both Donoghue and Brown will serve nine years behind bars whilst Jennings was handed eight years and four months. The judge said: "This man was begging you to stop as he was being attacked. Not only did you cause serious physical harm to your victim, he's still suffering with the psychological trauma.
"This robbery was plainly planned, you didn't end up at this secluded house by accident. You went there expecting there to be a good amount of money. It may well be that you went to the wrong house but that doesn't draw away from what you ultimately did. You were all wearing masks and had hoods up."
The judge also commended police for their "prompt" response. He added they were there "within minutes", no doubt thanks to the victim's quick-thinking. He said: "Had they not arrived when they did, it worries me to think what might have happened next."
