Hunt for hammer thugs who attacked pensioner

Reporter: Lucy Kenderdine and Dawn Marsden
Date published: 12 February 2014


A FRIGHTENED grandmother has described the terrifying moment her 69-year-old husband suffered a fractured skull in an horrific hammer attack in their home.

Sixty-nine-year-old grandfather Martin Higgins desperately tried to protect his wife when two thugs kicked open the door of their Spencer Street, Higginshaw, bungalow in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Sue Higgins (63) said her husband was viciously attacked while watching television.

As the raiders entered Mr Higgins was confronted by one of the robbers, who swung at him with a hammer.

The stunned grandad-of-six managed to crawl to his bedroom, where the couple barricaded themselves in as the thugs took a phone and handbag.

The raging robbers repeatedly stabbed at the bedroom door with a knife before running off.

Mrs Higgins said: “It was such a shocking and scary thing to have happened to us. I still can’t believe it.

“Martin was just sitting in the living room watching TV while I went to bed.

“The men just came in screaming “Where is the money?” and attacked Martin, but I have no idea why our home was targeted.”

Evidence of the attack was clearly visible with blood splattered around the home, kick marks on doors and debris on the floor.

The first man is described as skinny and about 5ft 8in tall. He was wearing a thin, light-blue hooded jacket and dark trousers and carried what is described as a small sledgehammer. His accomplice was of a similar build and height.

Detective Constable Andrew Day said: “You only have to look at the violence the intruders showed to establish they are two determined and dangerous criminals. It’s so important we take them off the streets.”

Police will make extra patrols in the area over the next few days to reassure residents

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800-555 111.