Masked robbers threatened to kill mum's newborn baby in terrifying daytime raid at their home

A masked gang threatened to kill a newborn baby unless her mum handed over gold jewellery, a court heard.

The three burglars threatened Barinderjit Dhaliwa and her eight-week-old daughter after breaking into their home in Wrexham because they thought it would contain gold as the family was Asian, the court was told.

One of the men snatched the baby while pharmacist Mrs Dhaliwa was punched in the stomach as she was still recovering from a C-section.

She begged them not to hurt her daughter and pointed to a jewellery box and they fled, the court heard.

At Mold Crown Court, in Wales, on Tuesday, John Price, 22, Scott Powell, 23, and Patrick Flynn, 19, were jailed for their roles in the raid in September 2020.

Price and Flynn had admitted conspiracy to commit robbery at a previous hearing, and Powell had admitted assisting an offender.

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Prosecutor Simon Mintz said CCTV showed four men arriving in a black Volkswagen and knocking on the door.

Mrs Dhaliwal didn't answer but minutes later heard breaking glass as the gang - wearing surgical masks and dark clothes - smashed their way through a patio door.

Mr Mintz said: "They were not deterred by her presence and rather rushed at her and snatched a necklace from her throat and her wedding ring from her finger."

Mr Mintz said they then shouted at her "Gold, where is the gold?" and she pointed to the jewellery box.

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Judge Niclas Parry said their victim had been left with "severe psychological harm".

He added: "This was a pre-planned attack on a property where you knew an Asian family lived. Because of that, you believed that gold would be kept there.

"Rather than leave after being confronted with a lone female and her two-month-old baby, you called out for each other and charged her.

“You ripped a necklace from her neck and her wedding ring from her finger and brandished a weapon as she held onto her baby."

Price, of no fixed abode, was jailed for seven and a half years.

Flynn, of Wrexham, was handed six years and two months and Powell, also of Wrexham was given one year and nine months.

They were each handed a restraining order banning them from entering the victim's home or contacting her in the future.