Exclusive: Angler tied up, beaten and robbed

Publican tells of his ordeal as thugs leave him bound in a ditch

AN ANGLER who was attacked, tied up, savagely beaten and robbed before being slung into a ditch has told of his terrifying ordeal.

Licensee of The White Horse in Hermitage, 60-year-old Neil Denton, was mugged on a 5am fishing expedition in Thatcham and endured a 90-minute wait, bound hand and foot, before a woman walking her dog found him.

The thugs who jumped him escaped with carp fishing equipment worth almost £5,000.

The incident happened on Friday at Muddy Lane near Thatcham's Nature Discovery Centre.

Mr Denton, a member of Newbury Angling Association which owns fishing rights at the nearby lake, said: “I drove down the lane and stopped my van to unlock the gate. I noticed a man behind me and said ‘good morning' but he had a face like thunder so I carried on unlocking the gate.”

Without warning, said Mr Denton, a second man grabbed him in a bearhug from behind.

He said: “It was an incredible shock. I spent 25 years in the army so I instinctively struggled and began kicking and thrashing but they overpowered me. The big guy who jumped me sat on me and they ground my face into the earth so I could barely breathe.”

Mr Denton was then tied, his hands and feet bound to each other, with nylon straps tied so tightly they cut into his flesh.

While he lay helpless, they began to kick him mercilessly before flinging him into a bushy ditch at the side of the track.

He said: “My face was in the earth and I couldn't see a thing but after a while I heard a diesel engine start up and then nothing more. The most unnerving thing is that they never uttered a single word throughout.

“At that time of the morning it was deserted. I was shivering, exhausted and unable to move or free myself. When I tried, the straps pulled tighter and, although I yelled for ages, no one came for what seemed an eternity.”

Of his rescuer, Mr Denton said: “She was crying and really upset at the state I was in. I can't tell you how grateful I am to her.”

He added: “I haven't slept properly since the incident. I don't know yet whether I'll be fishing there again. It's really shaken me.”

Newbury Angling Association has warned members to be vigilant and chairman of Thatcham Angling Association Antony Rich said there had been a recent spate of tackle thefts at isolated waters in the Newbury area.

The first man who approached Mr Denton had dark, slicked back hair and wore a bomber jacket with thick, puffed hood and had gold, ‘flesh tunnel' ear rings in each ear.

The other man was tall with muscular forearms with black swirling tattoos down to each wrist.

Anyone with information, or who may have spotted the men, should call Thames Valley Police on 0845 8 505 505.

Alternatively, the Crimestoppers charity can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.