Manhunt after Essex man is shot through his bedroom door

Police are searching for two men after a shooting during a break-in at a manor house in Essex on Saturday left the householder in hospital with serious injuries.

The victim had barricaded himself in his bedroom after the armed men broke into The Old Rectory in Sible Hedingham before dawn. He was subsequently shot through the closed door, leaving him with what police describe as "life-changing" injuries to his leg.

The Grade-II listed manor house is owned by businessman Timothy Mardon, although police have not confirmed whether he was at home during the attack. However, The Times reports he has been named locally as the victim.

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Mardon, an executive at the Bermuda branch of insurance firm ACE Tempest Re, is said to divide his time between Bermuda and the UK, travelling with his wife.

While nothing appeared to have been taken from the property, Essex Police are treating the incident as an attempted robbery. Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Jennings told the press there was "no reason to suggest that [Mardon] was targeted individually".

Police are carrying out forensic searches as well as making door-to-door enquiries in the village.

Detective Sergeant Mark Cadd said officers "urgently" need to track down the suspects, described as white males in their twenties wearing dark clothing, and Essex Police have asked anyone who noticed suspicious activity in the area to contact them.

"This was an extremely distressing incident for the victim," Det Sgt Cadd added.

Calling the incident "frightening", Councillor Ron Volkwyn, the chairman of the local parish council, told the local newspaper: "Sible Hedingham is a lovely village, nice and quiet. There’s been a few break-ins recently but it’s generally a peaceful village, so I’m really shocked."