Couple attacked in their home - Hindley
Shortly before 10.50pm last night, Wednesday 12 August 2009, the man and woman were upstairs in bed at their home on Ruabon Crescent, Hindley, when they heard someone kicking at the front door.
The 19-year-old man went downstairs to investigate, where he was confronted by two masked men who had smashed their way into the house.
They then attacked him with a hammer and a baseball bat.
His 18-year-old girlfriend heard the noise, went downstairs and tried to pull the balaclava off one of the offenders. He has then ordered her to get money.
She went upstairs to get a small amount of cash, but was told to get more. At this point the men continued to beat the man with the baseball bat, hitting him round the head.
She tried to stop them but was sprayed in the face with pepper spray, temporarily blinding her. The offenders then ran off with the £30 cash.
The man suffered several puncture wounds to the face and bruising to the brain and was taken to hospital where his condition is described as stable. The woman also went to hospital as a precaution but her sight quickly returned.
Both offenders are described as white. One was about 5ft 10in tall with a skinny build, short brown hair and a long face. The other had a stocky build and light-coloured hair.
Detective constable Richie Bennett, of Wigan CID, said: "To unleash this kind of violence for the sake of £30 is shocking.
"To see masked men smash their way into your home must have been terrifying. The level of violence used by these merciless thugs really was off the scale.
"They beat a defenceless man with baseball bats and hammers before fighting with his partner and spraying her with pepper spray. In some way we are fortunate not to be dealing with an even more serious incident - the woman could have lost her sight .
"I now want to hear from anyone with information who can help us put these yobs behind bars."
Anyone with information is asked to call Wigan CID on 0161 856 5307 or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Bauer Media