Woman tells of Telford attack terror

An arthritis sufferer had to hide under a table as she dialled 999 after a father and son burst into her home and attacked her and her fiance, a court has been told.

Heather Murray cowered under a table in the kitchen after being hit over the head with a chair during the alleged attack, the jury at Shrewsbury Crown Court heard.

Miss Murray was attacked after trying to intervene when neighbours David and Daniel Mooney allegedly broke into the house in Madeley and started attacking her and fiance Craig Walton.

Miss Murray claims that Mr Walton was struck over the head several times with a chair leg before being attacked with a metal pole.

Shrewsbury Crown Court heard that when she tried to intervene, Miss Murray was struck over the head with a chair by Daniel Mooney. She suffered bruising behind the ear, she said.

The jury heard a recording of a frantic 999 call made by Miss Murray, who broke down in tears as the message was played.

Most of what was being said could not be made out, but Mr Phillip Beardwell, prosecuting, said he could hear David Mooney shouting: "I've got nothing to lose."

Miss Murray told the court that she had made the call from underneath the table in the kitchen.

David Mooney, 42, of Chapel Row in Horton, and his son Daniel, 19, of Dunsheath in Hollinswood, Telford, deny charges of causing actual bodily harm to Mr Walton, burglary and aggravated burglary.

Daniel Mooney has also denied further charges of causing actual bodily harm to Miss Murray and damaging property.

The court had earlier heard that Mr Walton was hit over the head with a fruit bowl and saucepans, and attacked with a metal vacuum hosepipe.

He told the court: "I was screaming 'leave Heather alone' and I got smacked again and there was even more blood. I thought I was going to die."

The trial continues.