Mum and daughters left terrified by armed thugs who burst into Mermaid Waters home

KAREN Middleton was haunted by one terrifying thought when a group of alleged robbers held a gun to her teenage daughter’s head during a bungled home invasion.

Karen Middleton, her daughter Reef Middleton and family friend Pandora Bonsor (on right) at their Mermaid Waters home after they where victims of a home invasion. Picture Mike Batterham

KAREN Middleton was haunted by one terrifying thought when a group of alleged robbers held a gun to her teenage daughter’s head during a bungled home invasion.

“I thought that’s it, my baby is going to die in front of me, that’s all that was going on in my head,” the 44-year-old mum said.

Ms Middleton and daughter Starr, 16, were held at gunpoint after three men wearing balaclavas and armed with handguns and knives broke into their Mermaid Waters home at approximately 8.30am yesterday morning.

Karen Middleton and her daughter Reef Middleton at their Mermaid Waters home after they where victims of a home invasion. Picture Mike Batterham

The 44-year-old mum of three had just woken when the trio of men entered the Hood Court home and demanded cash before ransacking the property.

Daughter Starr, who heard the commotion, rushed to her mother’s aid when the alleged offenders turned and held a gun to her head.

Ms Middleton said she was terrified that the gun would accidentally go off and kill her daughter.

“In those situations people can act quite erratically and accidents happen so fast and next thing you know a gun goes off by accident,” she said.

“I told them there was no money in the house but Starr wanted to fight them off.”

The 16-year-old was too distraught to talk yesterday. The Bulletin understands she was staying with a friend last night.

Karen Middleton and her daughter Reef Middleton at their Mermaid Waters home after they where victims of a home invasion. Picture Mike Batterham

Daughter Reef, 20, was punched in the face and knocked to the ground by one of the alleged offenders as she rushed to her family’s aid.

“They were wearing black masks that covered their whole face,” she said. “I didn’t think too much of it because of the adrenaline and all of that.

“They realised we had no money and they ran off but we chased them down the street.”

Friend Pandora Bonsor, 17, who had stayed at the home overnight, said she thought a fight had broken out between family members when she heard screams.

“I didn’t think that some guys in masks had come into the house,” she said.

“It was the scariest thing to happen to me ever.”

The alleged offenders fled the scene empty-handed and drove off in a gold sedan.

Police are investigating the incident.