Man bashed by intruders as children hid in bed

Three of the alleged offenders aged 19, 28 and 34 appeared in court last week. Photo / Thinkstock

A terrified woman left her two small children metres from where their father had been viciously attacked in a home invasion in a desperate bid to get help.

The children, aged about 5 and 3, were in their bedroom when four intruders set upon their father in the hallway outside their bedroom in the early hours of the morning.

Their mother was also assaulted but escaped to the neighbours' house and called 111.

Detective Senior Sergeant Kevin Hooper said the couple and their two children were in bed asleep when four men burst into their home near Auckland's Pt England Rd at about 2am on July 2.

"The alleged offenders broke in through a door, forcing entry into the house," he told the Herald.

"The victims heard them and got out of bed, and the offenders confronted them inside the house."

The confrontation occurred in the hallway outside the bedroom where the children had been asleep.

Mr Hooper said the children did not come out of the room during the attack, but would have heard "everything".

The intruders demanded money and then set upon the man.

"I don't know whether a weapon was used, but he was punched multiple times and suffered significant head injuries.

"After the incident he was taken to hospital where his condition deteriorated rapidly, to the extent that the doctors had to conduct emergency surgery in relation to a brain injury."

Mr Hooper said the mother agonised over leaving her children in the house, but knew she needed to get out to get help.

"It was extremely traumatic. In my view she did absolutely the right thing," he said. "It was a very brave decision to make."

The intruders left moments before police arrived, taking cash and personal items with them.

The children were unhurt and their father has been discharged from hospital but may take some time to recover from the head injuries.

"As with a lot of head injuries it will be some time before an accurate prognosis as to his recovery can be made," Mr Hooper said. "The injury was very serious and life threatening."

Three of the alleged offenders aged 19, 28 and 34 appeared in court last week and police are confident they will find the fourth man.

Two of the alleged attackers were arrested in Hamilton at a relative's home and the third in Auckland.

All three men, from the Pt England area, were charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and aggravated robbery.

They were granted interim name suppression.

Two were remanded in custody and the third released on strict bail conditions until their next appearance.

Mr Hooper said the victims did not know their attackers, who were associates of the occupants at a neighbouring property.

He said the family were too scared to go back to the house where the attack happened.

"She [the mother] is still very, very upset about the whole thing. She is concerned about her children and their father.

"She felt she couldn't live in the house any more and has since moved from the area."

"I think this was at the top end of seriousness. A person nearly died and there was a high level of lawlessness."