Nine years for armed raid on Pattingham home

A robber who was part of a masked gang that carried out a raid at the home of a businessman was this afternoon jailed for nine years and eight months.

Nathan McDonald, pictured above left, took part in the evening raid on the Pattingham home of Richard Barnfather, pictured right, and his fiancee Deborah Leadbetter on March 9.

Father-of-three Mr Barnfather was confronted by two masked men, one armed with a pistol.

His German pointer Tilly kept a third man at bay while Mr Barnfather was dragged to the front door.

After handing over the car keys to three top-of-the-range cars – an Aston Martin, Mercedes and Range Rover worth £300,000 – he was bundled into the bedroom to join his fiancée.

The couple were then tied up, threatened and beaten before the gang stole jewellery worth £50,000, mobile phones and cars.

The three stolen vehicles were found abandoned in Tipton, Smethwick and Wolverhampton.

McDonald, 22, of Merridale Street West, Wolverhampton, appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court and was jailed after pleading guilty to robbery and possession of an imitation firearm.

Two other men, aged 48 and 17, were also arrested by police in connection with the robbery and remain on police bail.

Mr Barnfather owns the country's largest independent wire manufacturer, Barnfather Wire Ltd, which is based in Darlaston.

This afternoon Det Insp Mark Bellamy welcomed the sentence. He said: "This was a particularly vicious attack on a couple in their own home."