Balaclava gang beat Gloucestershire farmer with pickaxe handle in vicious house raid

A farmer has been beaten with a pickaxe handle in a terrifying ordeal in his own home. Three balaclava masked men entered the Gloucestershire farmers house in the middle of the night, raiding thousands of pounds of money.

The attack happened between 7.50pm and 8.10pm on Saturday (10 October) at a farmhouse in the village of Uley, near Stroud.

The man, in his 50's, was believed to have been alone in his remote farm property when the gang walked in to house and demanded to know where money and valuables were. The farmer was at the time sitting in his living room when the raiders broke through the door.

The victim was treated in hospital for serious facial injuries including a broken cheekbone, said a police spokesman.

A spokesperson from the Gloucestershire police said: "The group entered through the front door and attacked the victim with the handle of a pickaxe.

"They demanded money and ended up searching the property, making off with several thousand pounds in cash."

The group is believed to consist of three men in their 30s and 40s, of medium build, between 5 foot 10 inches and 6 foot tall.

Investigations in to the attack to try and catch the gang are ongoing.