A COUPLE who were tied up and tortured by robbers are banking on a Crimewatch appeal to catch their sadistic assailants.

Two robbers entered the home of a couple in Woodman Lane, in Sewardstonebury, last month looking for money.

They came across the two occupants, a man aged 70, and his partner who is in her 60s, and tied them up before torturing the man by tying a hot iron to his back.

After demanding the couple reveal the location of a safe they did not have, the two robbers boiled a kettle and threatened to scold the three-year-old granddaughter of the man's partner who was also staying at the house.

The robbers then handcuffed the couple to a radiator, and eventually left with a haul of jewellery.

Over a month since the case happened, police are still no wiser as to who carried out the brutal robbery and they are now relying on a televised Crimewatch appeal tonight (September 8).

The male victim, who has asked not to be named, said: “Nothing has happened at all with my case. I think they're relying on Crimewatch for anything to happen.

“I've never watched it before in my life. The police organise it and they get in touch with you. I did an interview and took it from there.

“Hopefully something will come from it. They've got to be caught. To me the way this country's going is disgraceful. I can't believe what happened to us, and that these people haven't been caught yet. They were very professional but you'd think the police would have someone on their books for a clue.”

The man is so keen for his assailants to be caught he has put up a reward of £5,000 of his money, matched by a further £5,000 from a member of the public for anyone who can give information that leads to a conviction.

He said: “It's obviously not very pleasant what happened. At night time my partner is still very nervous. It completely ruins your life.”

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact detectives at Loughton on 0300 333 4444 or give information anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.