Pregnant mother tells of Wollerton machete ordeal

Exclusive - by Dani Wozencroft: A pregnant mother today described the terrifying moment she was tied to a chair by an armed gang who ransacked her home in front of her and her three-year-old son.

Victoria Ratheram, 28, was attacked by raiders armed with a machete and baseball bat in the quiet village of Wollerton, near Market Drayton.

They threatened to hurt her and her pet dogs if she did not do as she was told as they raided her home for money.

Mrs Ratheram was one of three people attacked by the gang, who carried out their terrifying attacks in broad daylight, striking just before 9am on Thursday.

Mrs Ratheram, who is married to James, 32, said: "I was in my home with my son, my husband had gone to work. I was about to go out when three men walked through the front door with a machete and an old style police truncheon.

"They were very scary and it was very traumatic.

"I am eight months pregnant. I had my three-year-old with me and they tied me to a kitchen chair in the nursery we have prepared for my new son.

""Luckily my son is not traumatised by it, the men told him it was a game.

"My neighbour's daughter came over to use the phone and found me, so untied me. I ran down the drive with my son to try to get to my mum's and there were police there."