New appeal over Wollerton machete raid gang
Police today appealed for fresh information to track down a gang of machete-wielding burglars – a year after they carried out two terrifying raids in Wollerton, near Market Drayton.
Yesterday marked the 12-month anniversary of the raids in which three men armed with a machete and truncheon burst into the home of Victoria Ratheram shortly before 9am on April 5.
They tied the 28-year-old, who was eight months pregnant, to a chair in front of her three-year-old son.
The gang burst into the home of Victoria and James Ratheram, before searching a house next door where they attacked a woman and her teenage son.
The teenager was left with a cut to his hand which required an operation.
Police have today renewed their appeal for information about the gang and admitted they had yet to make any arrests.
Mrs Ratheram, 29, who was eight months pregnant, was tied to a kitchen chair in the nursery prepared for the couple's new arrival. Her husband was out at the time. The men told her son it was all a game.
At the time police said they did not believe the attacks were random, but thought the offenders might have got the wrong address.
The gang fled with a small amount of stolen property in a black Land Rover Discovery taken from one of the homes.
It was later found abandoned.
In the past 12 months officers from West Mercia Police have worked with forces in North Wales, Merseyside and Staffordshire to trace the three men.
The two terrifying raids featured on the BBC's Crimewatch last year.
Detective Constable Nick Williams, of West Mercia Police, said: "The file remains open and the investigation into these serious crimes continues.
"Extensive inquiries have been carried out and are still ongoing. The incidents were featured on BBC Crimewatch last year and various items of information were followed up as a result. There have been no arrests to date.
"One year on, we are urging people to contact police if they recall anything which might be related to the robberies.
"We would obviously welcome any details about those responsible and will treat calls in strictest confidence."
The Ratherams did not want to talk about their ordeal today. Karen Calder, the councillor for Hodnet, lives in Wollerton and said villagers do not talk about it anymore. She said: "Things got back to normal quickly, people were left puzzled and lots of questions remain unanswered.
"It is up to the police to carry on with the investigation."
You can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
