MASKED raiders smashed the windows of a busy restaurant with a baseball bat and an axe – showering tables in glass and frightening customers so much they locked themselves in the toilets in fear.

Santinni Italian restaurant and bar in Shildon, County Durham, was starting to fill up yesterday teatime when a car pulled up outside and two men wearing balaclavas attacked the premises with the weapons.

Terrified staff and customers – including children who were sat near the window enjoying an 11th birthday party – began screaming and ran to the back of the restaurant.

Some even locked themselves in the toilets fearing the raiders would burst in through the doors to rob the business or hurt someone.

“I heard a bang and thought it was a balloon from the party but I looked up and saw this man in a balaclava smashing the window with a huge baseball bat, he was hitting it over and over.

“I shouted to everyone to get to the back thinking we were going to be robbed and one of the mams locked the bairns in the toilets before they escaped out the fire exit.

“Another man with an axe was smashing the windows on the other side, then they jumped in the car and a third drove off.

“We were on to the police straight away and they said everyone needed to stay inside in case they were still out there.

“It was horrendous, people were really scared then really angry about it,” said one worker, who didn’t want to be identified.

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

Glass in almost every window at the property was smashed - these pictures show where they were hit with a baseball bat and an axe

Business owner Kerry Varan said the shocking ordeal had left people shaken and upset but that she and her team will not be beaten by the attackers.

She said: “I don’t know why it was done, it is like they were making a statement. "Nothing can justify action like that, it was absolutely traumatising for the staff and the poor customers.

“But we’ve had so many messages of support from the village, we got boarded up last night and were in early this morning cleaning up – there was glass stuck in the seats and all over the tables and floor all the way to the back of the restaurant such was the force of the smashing.

"I have to thank everyone for their support.

“I’m stubborn and won’t be beaten, something like this has made me more determined to get on with it. We’ll be open as usual.”

The Northern Echo:

Alex Bestwick rushed to the scene 

Restaurant manager Alex Bestwick was Christmas shopping at nearby Tindale Crescent, on a night off, when she got numerous calls from colleagues saying she needed to get to the restaurant.

She said: “I was there within a few minutes, I panicked and was worried about the staff and the customers.

“Anything in the restaurant like windows we can fix, but I was so scared someone had been hurt.

“One of the girls was working her first shift and is only 16.

“Some of the people inside were visibly upset.

“But if anything it has shown us the support we have in the community and from loyal customers and we’re determined to carry on.”

The Northern Echo:

Mrs Varan said witnesses believe a silver car used by the culprits approached the restaurant from Main Street and, following the attack, drove off past The Original Factory Shop, travelling in the wrong direction along Primitive Street.

She urged anyone with information about the incident to contact Durham police, which is investigating, on 101.

 

 

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