'I thought I would die'

Paul Burgess

A BARMAN thought he would die as a masked man stood on his neck during an armed robbery.

Paul Burgess (47), had locked up after finishing his shift at Brookdale Golf Club in Woodhouses, near Failsworth, on Sunday (6) when he felt an arm round his neck.

He shouted to his husband, who was waiting in the car, but slowly felt the grip tighten before he was slammed to the floor by the thug. A foot was thrust onto his neck, as he slowly felt himself black out.

Recalling the terrifying event, Paul said: "In all my 47 years, this is the first time that I thought I was going to die. The man was extremely violent - he had a complete lack of respect for human life.

"He put his whole body weight onto my neck as I lay on a concrete floor. I couldn't breathe. I suddenly thought 'I have to do something now or I will die'. I knew they wanted me to let them into the club to steal money, so I managed to kick up from the floor and said 'let me open the door'."

Meanwhile Paul's husband Jason was dragged from his car by another member of the four-strong gang, who were armed with hammers and knives.

The gang members screamed and shouted as they marched the pair through the building and down to the cellar. Paul opened the safe and the yobs made off with the content, about £800 in cash.

As the thugs fled, in a last act of violence, one threw a bottle bin at the pair.

Paul says he is still in agony after the incident, his whole upper body is in pain. He had to take off his wedding ring for the first time due to swelling, and the couple are still suffering the psychological effects.

Detective Sergeant Mark McDowell, of GMP's Oldham borough, said: "This was a brazen robbery that has left both victims absolutely terrified." Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting incident number 1908 of 06/11/16, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.