THE BRAVE mother of a man who was stabbed while trying to defend her during a terrifying raid on her home is offering a reward to anyone with any information in the hope of bringing their attackers to justice.
Amanda and her son Brett were attacked in a horrifying ordeal on November 9 at around 11.15pm, when three men broke into their home in Beoley Road West.
When Amanda heard the first bang at her front door she thought it was her partner but then she heard a much louder noise.
“I ran into my son’s room and when I got to the top of the stairs there were three men running up towards to me, wearing masks and screaming to give them money.”
Two of the raiders had meat cleavers while the third held a large knife, it was revealed this week.
The 48-year-old mother-of-four was thrown to the floor where one man lay on top of her – holding a knife to her throat.
“I kept telling them I had nothing but the one on top of me kept saying ‘give me the money now’ – it was then that I recognised his voice, I just thought I know you.”
Amanda confronted her attacker, and hit him with part of a Dyson hoover.
Brett meanwhile was fighting for his life, defending himself from another assailant in his bedroom who was trying to stab him with the meat cleaver.
During the struggle the 23-year-old was stabbed in the hand as he fought to stop the blade entering his chest.
“It needed four stitches and I still can’t use my hand properly,” he said.
The raid, which lasted two minutes and 20 seconds on CCTV, but felt like a lifetime, saw the men escape with a safe containing two passports and a jar of loose change totalling around £70, which Amanda planned to give to her daughter for her 18th birthday.
“It was the scariest thing I have ever been through,” said Amanda, who checked into a hotel for a week before feeling strong enough to return home.
“This has been my home for five years, I’m a strong and independent woman but Brett has moved back in with me.”
Police say the men escaped onto Holloway Drive and used the underpass to get to their vehicle, a 52 plate silver Ford Ka, parked on Beoley Road East.
One of the burglars is believed to be about 6ft 2ins and was wearing a light grey or blue hooded top.
The other two men were shorter but all were wearing masks and gloves.
Police are urging anyone with information to call them on the non emergency 101 number or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
