A former police chief and Royal Marine was robbed in his Black Country home after three men kicked down his door after pretending to be asking for directions.

John Mellor and his wife Beryl were attacked in their house in Wolverhampton after the robbers knocked the door.

Mr Mellor, aged 82, and his 83-year-old wife had just finished watching Coronation Street when he answered the door shortly after 8pm on Sunday. He had the chain on the door at the time but the men kicked it open and attacked him.

One of them punched Mr Mellor in the head while another grabbed Mrs Mellor’s bag and emptied its contents before taking keys and stealing the couple’s maroon Nissan Qashqai.

Mr Mellor told today how he had left a gold ring, which was due to go to the jewellers to be adjusted, in the car. The gang got away within a few minutes, he said.

The attackers are described as black, in their mid 20s and were wearing scarves to cover their faces.

Mr Mellor, who was a police officer for 34 years and served as superintendent for West Bromwich, said: “They said they were looking for Jeffcock Road but then they kicked the door in and kicked me.

“I had a go at one of them and tried to get him on the deck but he kicked me again.
“One of them pushed my wife and grabbed her bag.”

Father-of-one Mr Mellor, Wolverhampton branch president of the Royal British Legion, said he had once been the victim of a burglary 30 years ago, but that it had happened when he was out.

He said his neighbours had been shocked by what had happened.

He added: “When I was a police officer if a group of men attacked a couple in their 80s they could expect to go down for 14 years but the deterrent isn’t there.”

He said police arrived within four minutes of the 999 call. The car has the numberplate A9 JPM.

West Midlands Police spokesman Lee Page said anyone with information should call Wolverhampton police on 0345 113 5000.