By Michael Youds
ROBBERS armed with baseball bats and a Samurai sword raided a Flintshire pub, and continued attacking their helpless victims even after they had handed over the cash.
A customer was tied up and threatened with the blade during the terrifying robbery at the Coach and Horses in Flint Mountain, which has sparked a major police hunt.
The pub manager was beaten badly, and is still in hospital with serious injuries.
Stuart Bickerton-Starkey, director of Lovely Day Inns, which owns the pub, said: “This is the most severe and shocking crime I’ve ever known of in all my time in the pub industry.
“These two men put up no resistance but were still being attacked and beaten after they had handed over the money, which shows you the mentality of the people who did this.
“They should not be allowed to get away with it, and we will be offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of these criminals.”
Three men, whose faces were hidden with clothing, burst into the pub just before 1am on Monday as it was closing for the night.
They demanded cash, punched the manager and beat him with baseball bats.
The thugs also tied up the customer, who is in his early 40s, and threatened to slit his throat with a samurai sword if he moved.
Mr Bickerton-Starkey said: “The manager, who is by no means a big lad, is still in hospital with very serious injuries.
“He was due to go on holiday next week to celebrate his 30th birthday, but obviously that won’t be happening now.
“We are like a family in this company and our staff are devastated by what happened.
“We never hold significant amounts of cash in our pubs, for safety and insurance reasons.
“These people need to be caught for the safety of the general public. We won’t rest until they are brought to justice.”
Detectives want to hear from a group of customers who left just before the raid.A North Wales Police spokesman said: “The employee sustained injuries to his arm, upper body and leg.
“The customer also sustained arm injuries and both were later taken to Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan by ambulance, having sustained injuries which are not believed to be life threatening.
“All three who entered the pub are described as wearing dark clothes and had most of their faces hidden with clothing.”
Witnesses should call Mold CID on 0845 607 1002, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
