Machete-wielding gang forced their way into man's home and 'treated him like a dog'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A masked gang forced their way inside a vulnerable man's home before one of them threatened him with a machete and a kettle full of boiling water.

Niko Lovatt, 29, and his two accomplices treated their victim "like a dog" after bursting their way into his home late at night on February 17.

However, the terrifying raid at the property in Weston Coyney ended when the police showed up at the door following a secret 999 call, Stoke-on-Trent Live reports.Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard how the man, who suffers from epilepsy, has been left traumatised since the incident.

Lovatt has now been locked up for over seven years. Prosecutor Sally Cames said the victim was home and was in the kitchen when he saw car lights through the glass front door at just before 11.30pm.The victim initially thought his brother had come home from work, but he heard a series of threatening knocks, followed by demands to open the door.