A TAUNTON jeweller was punched repeatedly in the face and head on a Monday afternoon in January 2006 in a violent robbery that shook the town.

Duncan Moore, owner of D.J. Moore Jewellers in St James Street, told the County Gazette he was lucky to be alive after being set on by two men while a third stood guard.

After subjecting the 52-year-old to the brutal attack, the men made off in a waiting car with jewellery worth around £50,000.

Mr Moore had been working with his safe door unlocked, but closed.

Detectives, who were still hunting the men, described the incident as shocking and extremely unusual.

Mr Moore, who had traded as a jeweller in Taunton for 35 years, said: “They just said ‘open the safe’.

"It was a terrifying experience.

“The degree of beating was absolutely not necessary at all. I feel physically quite beaten. Mentally I’m very angry.

“I’m worried that if they don’t get caught they’ll be able to do the same thing again.

“I was just thankful that I was able to get up this morning, look out at the fields and say thank God I’m alive.

“They could have just as easily have killed me.

“I feel hatred for these people.”

As the men left the shop Mr Moore was able to reach the front door and alert a passer-by, who called the police.

The robbers ran into Middle Street and were seen getting into a silver VW Golf with a fourth man at the wheel.

The car then sped off along Middle Street, into Canon Street, on to Priory Avenue and beyond.

Police believed the getaway vehicle had a false number plate.

No weapons were used, but Mr Moore was left with severe facial bruising that needed treatment at Musgrove Park Hospital.

He said he had been unable to return to the shop since the attack and did not know what the future held.

“I am going to review the situation at the end of the week and see if I’m able to carry on,” he said.

The shop bought, sold and repaired second-hand and antique jewellery, and some of the items taken were described as “distinctive” and around 200 years old.

Officers made inquiries around St James Street in an effort to track down any witnesses to the robbery.

Det Insp Jerry Wallis said: “Mr Moore was punched repeatedly in the face and around the head.

“There was no reason for the amount of violence used.

“We would appeal for anybody who was in the area to come forward.

“We believe two of the men, who were wearing baseball caps, were sat on the wall near St James Street swimming pool before entering the shop.”