Armed gang spray house with dad's blood during meat cleaver break-in as family feared 'this is it'

A terrified mum feared for the lives of her young family after an armed gang smashed their way into their home in West Yorkshire.

Rebecca Davis, her partner Kieran Forbes and their four-year-old son were asleep at home in Pontefract when masked men with machetes, knuckledusters and axes broke in and demanded cash and jewellery.

One of the men held a knife to her throat while another smashed Kieran in the face with a weapon, breaking his eye socket and leaving him and the house covered in blood. Rebecca, 29, said: “I thought they were going to kill us.”

She added: “They hit Kieran with a meat cleaver and a knuckle duster. It was the longest eight minutes of my life. The house is covered in blood.”

Rebecca was alerted to the break-in after hearing a bang and going to check on her son, who is four. She was confronted by two men on the landing. One had a knife and the other a machete-type weapon.

She and Kieran retreated to her bedroom and barricaded the door but had to open it as they feared the gang would harm their son. The couple handed over watches, a watch winder, a wallet and money and the gang left. Rebecca believes the men had targeted them. The couple has improved their home security following the burglary.

The break-in happened around 10.20pm on Good Friday. West Yorkshire Police is investigating. A spokesman said three men had been arrested and bailed pending further enquiries.