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Nathan McDonaldThe worker who robbed his employer, millionaire Richard Barnfather
Country:
 Great Britain |
Content:
- Nathan McDonald - Biography
- The Robbery and Attack
- The Trial and Sentencing
- The Night of the Attack
- The Trial and Consequences
Nathan McDonald - Biography
Nathan McDonald is a former employee who committed a robbery against his employer, millionaire Richard Barnfather, in Lower Rudge, Shropshire, the UK. McDonald had been working for Barnfather for four years as a garage worker. On the day before the attack, McDonald came to Barnfather's house to wash his Aston Martin. In a terrifying incident, Barnfather was struck on the head with a gun handle at his home. The robbery involved four assailants, one of whom was a former employee of Barnfather for four years. McDonald was sentenced to nearly ten years in prison last Wednesday.
The Robbery and Attack
During the attack, Barnfather's fiancée, Deborah Ledbetter, was beaten, choked, and hit against a wall. The four robbers fled in a silver Aston Martin DBS, a black Range Rover Vogue, and a silver Mercedes SLK, with a combined value of £280,000. They also stole jewelry worth approximately £50,000.
The Trial and Sentencing
During the sentencing, Judge Robin Onions described the attack on Barnfather's mansion as "nightmarish" and filled with "unwarranted and completely unnecessary violence." Outside the court, Barnfather, the owner of Barnfather Wire Ltd., the country's largest wire and cable manufacturer, stated that McDonald had worked for him for four years and had frequently washed his cars. "We welcomed him warmly, treated him to tea, and he betrayed our trust," he added.
The Night of the Attack
According to prosecutor Sharon Bahia, the couple realized someone was outside their house when their dog started barking. When Barnfather went downstairs to investigate, three of the robbers smashed the glass front door with a large garden pot. Using a fake gun as a threat, they pushed Barnfather into the kitchen and rendered him unconscious.
Two of the robbers attacked Barnfather's 38-year-old fiancée, who was only wearing a nightshirt and leggings, in the bedroom. The couple was bound, beaten, and forced Barnfather to hand over all the cash, expensive watches, and car keys. The robbers ransacked all the closets before successfully fleeing in three stolen vehicles.
The couple raised the alarm by driving to their neighbors in their fourth car. A few hours after the robbery on March 9th in Lower Rudge, Shropshire, the stolen cars were found abandoned near Wolverhampton. However, the stolen jewelry worth £45,700 and Ledbetter's £25,000 ring were never recovered. McDonald was arrested a month after the crime when his DNA matched blood samples found in the stolen vehicles.
The Trial and Consequences
Although McDonald admitted his involvement in the robbery and possession of a fake weapon during the trial, he denied entering the victims' home. However, he was found guilty because British law allows a group of individuals to be convicted for a crime committed by one or several members. The other three criminals remain at large. Judge Onions stated, "This was a planned, targeted, and professional crime."
Barnfather stated that the entire nightmare deeply affected him and his fiancée, and they decided to postpone their wedding until the following month. He also mentioned that they had sold their house and cars.
A reward of £14,000 is offered for any information leading to the capture of the culprits, with £10,000 personally contributed by Barnfather.
