Jury told of masked raid on home

A Telford coal merchant and his 80-year-old mother were subjected to a "terrifying attack" by masked robbers who made off with cash and jewellery, a court heard.

Anthony Wiggan and Jolan Hall smashed a window of Robin Wilkinson's home in Wellington Road, Muxton, before going to the 53-year-old's bedroom, prosecutor Stephen Cadwaladr told Shrewsbury Crown Court today. Wiggan and Hall, along with two other men, deny robbery.

Mr Cadwaladr, opening the prosecution case today, said: "Robin Wilkinson was subjected to a terrifying attack at the hands of men who believed valuable property was on the premises.

"This house was carefully chosen, it wasn't by chance. Jolan Hall knew Robin Wilkinson, he knew where he lived and he believed that Mr Wilkinson had valuable property and cash in the house."

Mr Cadwaladr told the court two masked men burst into the coal merchant's bedroom and placed a pillow over his face before throwing him to the floor and hitting him with a broken table leg.

His 80-year-old mother Irene Wilkinson came out of her room after hearing a noise but was marched back by one of the robbers.

Mr Cadwaladr told the court the two men left the house with about £1,000, a mobile phone and jewellery.

Mr Wilkinson, who used to be in a relationship with Hall's mother, later told police he recognised his voice as one of the robbers.

Footprints found in the dining room of the house matched those of trainers found in Anthony Wiggan's bedroom. Mr Cadwaladr said the pair escaped in a car driven by Delroy Wiggan.

The three men had been seen drinking in a pub in Oakengates earlier that night on November 5 and allegedly picked up a fourth man, Nythan Hadley, before committing the offence.

Delroy Wiggan, 20, of Glendale, Lawley; Hall, 20, of Mannerley Lane, Overdale; Hadley, 24, of Parkdale, Hadley, and Anthony Wiggan, 23, of Spring Hill Crescent, Madeley, have all pleaded not guilty to robbery.

The trial continues.

By Wayne Beese