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Friday May 10, 2019
No. 893
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Honoured a hundred years on
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TERROR OF AXE AND ‘ACID’ RAID ON PUB By Staff Reporters
AXE-WIELDING robbers threatened to spray drinkers and staff with acid in a terrifying latenight raid on a pub in Cleckheaton. Police are appealing for witnesses after the robbery at The Marsh on Monday night. The incident happened at 11.10pm, when three hooded suspects entered the pub on Bradford Road and demanded money. There were still customers in the bar and according to one witness the raiders told them to “get down on the floor or we’ll spray you with acid” and to hand over their wallets. Pub landlord Neil Barker, who has run The Marsh for 17 years with wife Karen, said customers were enjoying the weekly poker night when one of the players tried to leave. Outside, one of the robbers grabbed him and sprayed him with an unknown substance before pushing him back inside the pub. Neil then recalled how he was sprayed with what he thinks was ammonia while one of the men stole money from the till. He said he got back to his feet to “protect my member of staff” who was behind the bar but he got sprayed again and was then struck from behind and hit in the face with the axe. He said he had to have 22 stitches and will need two teeth
removing. One of the suspects ran upstairs in an attempt to steal the pub’s safe but was scared off by Neil’s two dogs. The three suspects then fled the scene. A witness who was at the pub at the time but didn’t want to be named, said: “It was awful. This is what society has become. “I’m shaken, it’s not a feeling that’s going to leave me in a hurry. I feel sorry for the guys that were injured.” One of the men officers want to
speak to is described as white, wearing a black top with the hood up covering most of his face. A second is described as white, wearing a light-coloured hooded top with black clothing covering some of his face. It is thought this male had been in the area close to the pub prior to the incident. A third male is described as wearing a balaclava. One of the
three is also believed to have had a hammer with them. Cleckheaton councillor Kath Pinnock condemned the attack and said: “Although the landlord’s injuries were not life-threatening, that’s not to say they weren’t serious. “This was a
vicious, sickening and brazen attack. For three men to just walk in like that and do what they did, it’s disgraceful. “It’s a popular pub and very highly rated in Cleckheaton so I can’t believe someone has done this to them. I’ve had other landlords and landladies in the area asking whether we can guarantee their pubs’ protection. It’s awful for them too, as it puts them in a fearful place. “I’ve been told a detective inspector is in charge of the case so it’s good that a senior police officer is looking after it. “I hope the men are caught, tried and punished according to the law.” Detective Inspector Alex Bacon, of Kirklees CID, said: “This was a serious incident which has traumatised the victims. “Two people have been sprayed with a substance which has caused them great distress and one person attacked with what is believed to be an axe. “Thankfully at this stage we don’t believe anyone was seriously injured but the pub was still open at the time and with it being a bank holiday weekend there will have been a lot of people around the area. “I want to appeal directly to anyone who saw anything suspicious either immediately before or after the incident to get in touch.” Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting crime reference 13190231642, or the independent crime-fighting charity, Crimestoppers, on 0800 555111.