Nine years in prison for armed raider

A car valeter was jailed for almost 10 years this afternoon for his part in a terrifying armed raid at the luxury barn conversion of a wealthy couple from Shropshire.

Father-of-one Nathan McDonald was part of a gang of masked men who smashed their way into the home of businessman Richard Barnfather and his fiancée Deborah Leadbetter in Lower Rudge, Pattingham.

McDonald, 22, of Merridale Road East, had cleaned at least one of Mr Barnfather's fleet of top-of-the-range cars in the past and knew the couple, Shrewsbury Crown Court was told.

During the robbery on March 9 this year the couple were tied up as the raiders ransacked their home. Mr Barnfather was hit over the head and Ms Leadbetter was groped as she lay helpless on her bed.

Judge Robin Onions, who jailed McDonald for nine years and eight months, said the attack 'must have been the stuff of nightmares' and told McDonald the psychological scars would stay with Mr Barnfather and his partner, who have since called off their planned wedding, for many years.

A new Aston Martin worth £198,000, a Range Rover valued at £78,000 and a Mercedes SLK worth £18,000 were taken. The raiders also took jewellery worth £44,000. The haul included a £25,000 engagement ring belonging to Ms Leadbetter.

McDonald admitted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm.

Police arrested him after blood found on two of the cars matched his DNA. An imitation handgun was found at his home. It was missing a magazine cartridge found outside the Barnfathers' home.

The other two robbers have yet to be caught and McDonald refused to name them for fear of reprisals, the court heard.

Outside court Detective Inspector Mark Bellamy said: "This was a particularly vicious attack on a couple in their own home. McDonald and his accomplices were ruthless, quite prepared to use violence to obtain what they were looking for."

Read more on the ordinary night that turned into a terrifying ordeal in your Shropshire Star