An armed burglar died in a botched raid after a father, who was in his lounge with his partner and two children, fought back, a trial heard.

Daniel Wood was with his family in their home above a launderette when a gang of at least four masked men burst in shouting “armed police”, Basildon Crown Court heard.

Cyrus Shroff, prosecuting, said Paul Robertson, who was the first to enter, was armed with what looked like a black gun, but later turned out to be an imitation weapon, and an axe.

He said the family were subjected to a “terrifying and serious” ordeal as the gang demanded money and tied Mr Wood’s hands behind his back with cable ties, as Robertson pointed the gun at them.

The raiders took a diamond engagement ring from Mr Wood’s finger, demanded to know “where’s the money under the floorboards?” and took £900 in cash from a wardrobe, the court heard.

Mr Wood was assaulted but managed to break free, Mr Shroff said, and was later told to lie on the floor while an axe was swung around his feet.

He said: “He managed to jump up from the floor, knocking the handgun out of Mr Robertson’s hand, then started wrestling with him to get the axe off him. One then shouted ‘police’. It may have been because there were blue Christmas lights flashing in one of the windows and it confused them.”

Robertson suffered serious wounds to his wrists and head and died at the scene, jurors heard.

Mr Shroff said: “The remaining burglars escaped into the night in a Vauxhall Vivaro.”

He said forensic evidence was gathered from items including an axe and a claw hammer, and mobile phone records were examined.

Mr Shroff said the evidence suggested the four intruders were Robertson, who died at the scene, Joseph Pearl, Jerome Johnson and Harrison Fryer.

Pearl, Johnson and Fryer have admitted their part in the raid, jurors heard.

Two more men deny aggravated burglary and possessing an imitation firearm at the time of an offence and are standing trial.

Mr Shroff said it was the crown’s case that Michael Williams, 36, of Milton Keynes, and Christopher Salvador, 31, of Watford, did not enter the property but played supporting roles.

He said Williams took part in recces and was the group’s driver and Salvador was involved with planning the raid on the address above Baylee’s launderette, Grays, which happened at about 9.30pm on December 4 last year.

Mr Shroff added: “Those involved with the planning stages are just as guilty of the counts on the indictment as those who physically entered Baylee’s launderette.”

The trial continues