A BUSINESSMAN was coshed over the head, stabbed and tied up by armed raiders who stole cash from his home.

Chris Steele, 47, of Gloucester Terrace, Thorpe Bay, was jumped on by two men in the early hours of the morning as he left his home.

He was responding to a call from a man claiming to be a police officer, who said there had been a possible break-in at his perfume business warehouse, on Stock Road indust-rial estate, Southend.

He was hit over the head with a metal cosh, topped with a coiled metal spring and ball, repeatedly punched and forced back inside with a knife held to his throat.

Mr Steele said: "They grabbed me and were threatening me and I thought at that stage they were going to put the knife in my throat.

"They forced me inside the hallway and then they took me upstairs.

"They seemed to know where they were going and asked me where my son was. Luckily, he had gone back to Luxembourg where he lives with his mum, but they had obviously been watching me.

"They brought me upstairs, tied me up, stabbed me in the hand with the knife, and forced me to tell them where the money was."

The men found a five-figure sum of cash and spent half an hour searching Mr Steel's home for more valuables.

Mr Steele said: "It was horrific."

After the men left, Mr Steele called out to his neighbours, who rushed to his aid and untied him before he called the police.

He said: "They are just bullies, they bullied their way in and need to be caught."

Mr Steele went to Southend Hospital, where his hand was stitched up. He is still having treatment for his head injuries following the attack, which happened on Monday, January 7. Police did not reveal the crime at the time.

Investigating officer Det Sgt Phil Smith said they had drawn a blank with their enquiries and appealed for anyone with information to call him on 0300 333 4444.

Both men were white. One was in his forties, with a London accent.

The other had ginger hair and a West Country accent.