DCSIMG

"Don't kill me," wife begs raid gang

THREE masked men broke into a Doncaster home and forced a terrified couple to hand over the expensive jewellery they were wearing.

Retired jeweller Michael Meanley has been left in shock and his wife Teresa refuses to leave their Denaby Main home.

Mrs Meanley, aged 39, begged one thug not to kill her as he forced a diamond ring from her finger. Another robber wielded a hammer as he took a 23,000 Breitling watch from Mr Meanley – who was dressed only in his underpants.

Mr Meanley, 57, told The Star: "It was terrifying, completely terrifying.

"I only had my boxer shorts on – I felt really vulnerable.

"You don't expect people to come straight into your house like that."

The ordeal happened after the couple, who have been married for four years, returned from a restaurant just after 9pm on Thursday.

Mr Meanley said: "I went upstairs to get ready for bed. Teresa opened the door for the dog to go out and they just strolled in. They must have been waiting for us.

"I didn't even realise what was happening at first. I could hear talking downstairs but I thought a neighbour must have come in. I went to the top of the stairs and this man with a mask on was there. He asked me to open the safe – but we don't have one. Then he told me to come downstairs."

The robbers fled after Mrs Meanley managed to run out of the front door.

They made off with the watch, the diamond ring, 200 in cash and an imitation Cartier watch they took from the bedside table.

Mr Meanley said: "I wouldn't be surprised if they are hitting other houses." He has offered a 5,000 reward for any information which leads to the robbers' arrest.

A South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: "Police were notified of an incident on Thursday September 2 at around 9.30pm.

"Police are continuing to investigate.

"The offence is not being linked with any other crimes in the area."

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