A family subjected to a terrifying knife attack have been left with nowhere to live as their four children are too scared to return home.
The Chron revealed last week that a family, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were targeted by balaclava-clad knifemen who forced their way into the property in Northampton, demanding drugs and cash.
The raid has hit the family hard, with their daughter – who was involved in a traumatic incident a year ago and spent three months in hospital recovering – now so terrified health bosses have advised her not to set foot in the property again.
Her mother, speaking exclusively to the Chron, said: “We were absolutely terrified. I was confronted by three men, two in balaclavas and one with a scarf wrapped round his face, all carrying knives.
“They were shouting at us, demanding money and drugs. One of them started to go upstairs and all I could think about was the children, I was petrified.”
The family have four children, three of whom are vulnerable youngsters.
The mother said: “They were waving knives at us, one had a normal kitchen knife and one had a huge 12-inch knife, it looked like something you would use in the military.
“My youngest girl was scared stiff. We have only recently moved up here and it’s really affected her. It went on for about 20 minutes but it felt like forever.”
The family raised the alarm when they managed to get to get in one of the children’s rooms and rang police from a mobile phone. The raiders then ran off with a laptop and another mobile phone.
Despite an extensive investigation, police confirmed yesterday that nobody has been caught in connection with the attack.
It is understood the family were the victims of mistaken identity and the attackers had targeted the wrong house, wrongly believing there was a large supply of cannabis inside.
Councillor David Mackintosh, leader of Northampton Borough Council, said: “We sympathise greatly with the family and our housing team have been working closely with them to help them resolve their current situation.
“We have offered the family a bond payment to help them move to another private sector property which is currently being repaired,” he added.
Since the ordeal the family have been staying with a relative but she is a full-time foster carer. As a result her foster child has been sent to respite care for the past fortnight. With the foster child now due home, the family have been forced to leave, but have nowhere to go as their new property is currently being renovated and won’t be ready for another fortnight.
The mother said: “Nobody wants to go back and I can’t expect the children to set foot in there again if the experts agree it’s not in their best interests.
“We are in a bit of a pickle. I don’t know what we’re going to do.”
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