A PENSIONER has spoken of the terrifying ordeal when three masked men burgled his Dalton home.

James Wareham, 75, was threatened with an axe and held down with a pillow over his face by men who demanded money.

Two days after the incident, Mr Wareham has spoken of the ordeal in the hope it will lead to someone shopping the culprits to the police.

The great-grandfather, who has osteoarthritis, said: “It was a shock and terrifying.

“I’ve lived here for 52 years without a problem.

“But over the past few months there has been a few break-ins, one over the road and another further down.”

Mr Wareham was in bed when he heard a big bang.

He said: “It all happened so quickly and then three men were in my bedroom.

“One of them had an axe which they must have used to get in.

“They were shouting and swearing ‘give me your money’ and shouting at me.

“The axe wasn’t big but it looked as if it could chop wood and I didn’t know if they would use it or not.

“They were wanting money but all I had was some loose change so I told them where it was.”

The incident happened shortly after 1.15am on Saturday morning at his home on Dyson Street, Dalton.

His wife Catherine, who has Alzheimer’s Disease, was at a respite centre at the time.

The retired truck driver added: “One of them was holding me down so I couldn’t move.

“Then they put a cushion over my face and tried to smother me.

“It lasted about ten minutes before the men fled over the back.

“I went outside to see where they went but they’d gone and I waited to hear a car engine start up but there was nothing.

“The police got here very quickly and I went to hospital and I was shaking the whole time.

“I’m ok now but it was a terrifying thing to go through.

“I’m just glad Catherine wasn’t here.”

The men were all wearing balaclavas with hooded tops up, dark clothing and gloves.

Mr Wareham, a father-of-four, was only able to see their eyes but said they were quite tall – between 5ft 10ins and 6ft – and spoke with a local accent.

He was taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and treated for shock.

The callous thieves smashed a glass pane in the back door of the property and police are conducting searches of the property.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0845 6060606.