Mistake theory on Wollerton machete break-in
A pregnant mother who was tied to a chair by raiders armed with a machete and a truncheon may have been the victim of mistaken identity, detectives have said.
A pregnant mother who was tied to a chair by raiders armed with a machete and a truncheon may have been the victim of mistaken identity, detectives have said.
Officers are still investigating the motive for last Thursday's raids on the home of Victoria Ratheram and a neighbouring property in Wollerton, near Market Drayton.
Police say they do not believe the attacks were random, but think the offenders had got the wrong address.
Detective Chief Inspector Alan Edwards, head of Shropshire CID, said: "This was a violent and terrifying experience for the victims at the two homes. Fortunately, no-one was seriously injured but they were subjected to a horrifying ordeal.
"We don't believe this was an incident carried out randomly. It's possible the home of the pregnant lady was mistakenly identified by the offenders."
Officers believe the three men burst into Mrs Ra-theram's cottage and tied her to a chair in front of her three-year-old son before moving on to the neighbours' home, where a teenage boy suffered a cut to his hand as he tried to protect his mother – leaving him with a wound which required surgery.
The gang fled with a small amount of stolen property in a black Land Rover Discovery taken from one of the homes. It was later found abandoned.
Describing her ordeal, Mrs Ratheram said she had tried to remain calm after being threatened by three men who tied her up.
The 28-year-old, who is eight months pregnant, said she was confronted by the raiders after going to her front door when her dog started barking.
She said: "They just came in. They asked for a safe and I was tied up in the hall as they ransacked the house and searched. Then I was moved into the nursery and tied to a chair with my dog in the room and my son.
"They closed the door and left me there – I was there for quite a while and my dog tried to chew through my ties and I was freed when a neighbour came round."
Anyone with information should contact Shrewsbury or Oswestry CID on 0300 333 3000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 for which a reward of up to £1,000 may be paid.
By Catherine Ferris
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