AN ARMED thug shot a man through a door then stood over his victim and began counting down from ten while threatening to kill him, a court heard.

Timothy Mardon lay on his bedroom floor bleeding to death while burglars raided his home and a man threatened to burn him alive mistakenly believing there were drugs and money at his £2million grade II listed home, it is claimed.

Charlie Simms, 23, of North Road, Great Yeldham, Kalebh Shreeve, 24, of Gibson Road, Sible Hedingham and Christopher Bergin, 27, of Hawkwood Road, Halstead are on trial following the incident at the Old Rectory during the early hours of February 6 in Sible Hedingham.

Simms is charged with attempted murder.

All three are charged with aggravated burglary, wounding with intent, possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Fortunately police and paramedics arrived after 35 minutes and managed to save Mardon who was allegedly left to die by the three men.

Richard Christie QC, prosecuting, said: “They smashed their way into the house, blasted him in the leg with a shotgun and repeatedly threatened to kill him, robbed him and repeatedly threatened to leave him for dead.

“His happy life has turned into a real living nightmare.

“The after effects have caused him long term injuries and problems causing him to seriously curtail his work and affect his life at home.”

The court heard the men escaped with a Tudor heritage watch worth about £3,000, about £300 cash in his wallet and some Japanese Yen and US Dollars.

However Mr Christie claims the inept Bergin almost immediately began searching eBay and other sites to find out how much the watch was worth.

It is claimed he also looked up Chinese currency, not realising what they had, and US Dollars to find out how much they were worth.

It is also alleged Mr Mardon told them about his £70,000 car collection in a desperate attempt to save his life after which the men left but did not take the cars.

Mr Christie claimed Simms was the ringleader and the gunman but the others knew he was armed and what the plans were having organised it together.

It is further claimed a top belonging to Bergin was found in Shreeve’s car with gun residue on it after the car was abandoned.

Some of the threats, it is claimed, were caught on a 999 call with the bungling burglars not realising the call Mr Mardon had made to the police was “live” for most of the alleged raid.

All three deny all the charges.

A jury of seven men and five women are hearing the trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.

It is expected to last for four weeks.

The trial continues.