Masked men use stun gun in attack raid

A BUSINESSMAN said he was "lucky to be here" after three masked men burst into his Tunbridge Wells home and attacked him with a stun gun.

Paul Maynard, 49, went to hospital after the raid at around 10pm on Friday night.

The gang had pushed their way in to his Woodbury Park Road house after he opened the door.

He was attacked with the gun about 10 times around the head, neck and hand.

The men fled when his friend, who had been sitting in the lounge, hit one of them.

Police have issued an appeal for information about a blue 4x4 pick-up with large white lettering "JD" in the cab's rear window. It had been parked close to the house and was used by the gang to escape.

Speaking exclusively to the Courier, Mr Maynard said it was not unusual for cabbies to knock on the door at night, as he ran taxi rental company Maynard's.

He said: "I opened the door and bang, straight away a Taser gun in the face. The prongs go in the skin and it shocks all the body.

"He did it again in the hallway and again on the back of the head and pushed me on to the settee and then held me down and did it about eight times in the back of the head.

"I could hear but I couldn't move. The only thing any of them said, apart from saying it was 'Dave' when they tapped on the door, was the guy with the stun gun, who said 'Have it, have it!'"

It was when Paul's friend John Gerrard, 34, from Malta, punched one of the men and ripped the scarf from his face, the trio fled.

Mr Maynard's partner Lin Perry had been upstairs watching television.

Police and ambulance crews arrived at the house and Mr Maynard was taken to Kent and Sussex Hospital, where his heart was monitored until 4.30am.

He believed the motive was robbery and it was premeditated, the gang mistakenly believing he kept takings at home.

"If John had not been here, I don't think I would be here. It was a particularly violent crime. It's not like coming home and catching a burglar indoors.

"They had planned it....it could be attempted murder because it is a firearm," said Mr Maynard, who said he agreed to speak to the Courier so he could warn other people.

"We are in Tunbridge Wells, this isn't New York or perhaps it is nowadays. I want to advise the community to be vigilant."

Sergeant Matt Burdekin said anyone who saw the pick-up at the time or who had further information should call 01732 379217 (if possible quoting reference 1448).