An Oldham pub landlord has spoken out after a burglar attacked his wife in her sleep.
The couple, who live above the Honeywell Arms on Ashton Road, between the Hathershaw and Fitton Hill area, were attacked by burglars in the early hours of Friday morning, at around 2am.
They have no idea who the attackers could be, adding that they haven’t barred anyone from the pub in "years".
Police are now asking for any information or witnesses to come forward.
Pub landlord Jack Dodd said he was awoken by the sound of one of the two attackers in the morning, days after hearing "tapping sounds" coming from outside the pub. His wife, who was attacked, has asked not to be named or photographed in this piece.
The Honeywell Arms (Image: Jack Fifield, Newsquest)
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The 60-year-old landlord recalled waking up on the day of the attack, saying: “I thought it was the cats, for some reason. They’re always running around or jumping around on something. I saw this shadow, I thought it was (my wife) and it wasn’t.
“I got up and I saw him and I just started swinging then.”
The couple suspect the attackers climbed up at the back of the pub before opening a window, possibly with a screwdriver, and slipping in upstairs.
What followed was a vicious attack, which involved one of the two attackers using a metal vacuum extension pipe to hit the couple, leaving Jack’s wife with a "hole right through" her face, needing surgery as a result. The attack was over "within five minutes", the couple said.
The couple think the attackers climbed up at the back of the pub (Image: Jack Fifield, Newsquest)
Jack said: “He hit me, because as I was thumping him he must have picked it up and hit me with it.
“I put about two or three in, it’s just instinct – you just start swinging, you don’t expect to see someone – it’s adrenaline.”
His wife added: “Twenty three years of being here, and nothing like that has ever happened.”
As the attackers escaped down the stairs, they managed to rip off the handle of an internal door.
Pub landlord Jack Dodd (Image: Jack Fifield, Newsquest)
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‘We’re too old for all this’
The couple recalled hearing "tapping sounds" at about 6am just over a week before the attack, and they now suspect it may have been the attackers "testing the waters" to see if the landlord and landlady were light sleepers.
The experience has left Jack, who has lived in the area for 25 years, and his wife thinking they may want to move. The experience has left Jack’s wife finding it difficult to sleep at night.
Jack added: “I’ve had a few people calling up to make sure we’re alright.”
His wife said: “I’ve had about 300 messages on my phone with people seeing it in the paper and that, even from strangers. It’s been lovely, the support and the wishes we’ve got, and the good luck, they’ve been overwhelming really. You expect it from family and friends, but a hell of a lot from people I don’t even know.”
Jack was keen to thank the police and ambulance staff for their support throughout the ordeal.
He said: “The police were brilliant, they turned up quick, and the ambulance – so a big thank you to them.”
His wife added: “The police have been amazing. The PC phoned me about seven times yesterday (Saturday), they’ve been amazing.”
The experience has even left one of the couple’s two cats, called Jet, hiding in the wardrobe for hours and "wandering around like a lost soul", according to the landlady.
The Honeywell Arms (Image: Jack Fifield, Newsquest)
Standing outside the pub, local resident Bev said: “It’s just horrifying what’s happened, what they’ve done to the landlady is just horrendous, and they’re going through enough as it is.”
Police are now appealing for witnesses to come forward or anyone with any information to help with the case.
No arrests have been made as officers investigate.
Detective Sergeant Matt Adshead of Greater Manchester Police's Oldham district said: “This is a shocking incident where two people have been asleep in their own quarters before being startled in distressing circumstances.
“After our initial investigation, we are keeping all available lines of enquiry open, but believe it was a targeted attack.
“We are committed to finding those responsible to bring them to justice and ensure we can keep the local community safe and supported.
“If anyone has any information or detail on this incident they can call officers in confidence direct by using 0161 856 4521, 101 or anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 quoting incident 259 of 22/09/2023.”
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