A man, aged 22, has been given a jail sentence of almost 10 years after he was found guilty of a robbery in which he tied up and beat his victims in their own home [17 August 2012].

The 22-year-old, from Wolverhampton, admitted robbery and possessing an imitation handgun.

He was one of three men in masks who broke into the home of Richard Barnfather and his partner Deborah Leadbetter in Shropshire on 9th March in a late-night attack.

The couple needed hospital treatment after they were tied up and beaten. Three cars and jewellery worth approximately £350,000 were stolen during the robbery.

'Psychological scars'

Mr Barnfather said: "It's disrupted our lives tremendously since the incident.

"The physical scars have healed now, but then obviously we've got the psychological scars that are still there."

Detective Inspector Mark Bellamy, from West Mercia Police, said: "This was a particularly vicious attack on a couple in their own home," he said.

"The long prison sentence imposed on McDonald, sends out a clear message that those who resort to violent crime, can expect little sympathy from the courts."

Read more on the BBC News website

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