A DYING man has spoken of his anguish after three armed raiders burst into his Suffolk home and demanded cash before threatening to cut off his arm.John Miller, who suffers from cancer of the pancreas, cirrhosis of the liver and diabetes, yesterday described the men who attacked him and smashed up his property with baseball bats on Wednesday evening as "scum".

A DYING man has spoken of his anguish after three armed raiders burst into his Suffolk home and demanded cash before threatening to cut off his arm.

John Miller, who suffers from cancer of the pancreas, cirrhosis of the liver and diabetes, yesterday described the men who attacked him and smashed up his property with baseball bats on Wednesday evening as "scum".

The 57-year-old victim - who was given just months to live by doctors last year - was relaxing with five friends at his home in Clare Close, Mildenhall, when the three raiders struck at around 7.15pm. They demanded cash and stole jewellery, threatening to cut Mr Miller's arm off if he did not hand over a gold bracelet.

And the callous thieves even held the six-inch blade of a kitchen knife to the throat of the cancer victim's beloved pet budgie Rosie, while pledging to beat his seven-year-old dog Lucy with a bat.

"We were watching television and playing darts when the three men with hats and scarves on just came storming in looking for money," said Mr Miller. "They demanded cash and started pushing me around.

"I really thought I was going to get a good beating, especially when they took me into the bedroom on my own and started threatening me with a baseball bat.

"They were swearing and said they would cut my arm off if I didn't give them my bracelets. They also threatened to hit my dog with a bat and got my budgie out of its cage and held a knife to its throat. It was just terrible and I didn't know what to do. These people are scum. To threaten my pets is not nice.

"Last year I was only given a few months to live, so this was the last thing I needed. My heart was beating so fast."

The thieves smashed up Mr Miller's television and stereo before escaping with cash, jewellery - which held sentimental value - and four mobile phones. It is not known whether they used a car to leave the area.

"My television was only a few months old, as I brought it when I heard the news from the doctors as I thought I may as well enjoy what money I did have," added Mr Miller. "I couldn't work out why as it seemed so pointless.

"I told them I had no money as I don't keep cash in the house. We gave them our phones just to get rid of them, but that is what I need the most. It has numbers for my doctor and the hospital on it, which I need for the sake of my health. It will make life difficult not to have it.

"The whole ordeal lasted about ten minutes, but it seemed a lot longer.

"I am just hoping the police catch someone so this doesn't happen to anyone else."

Det Sgt Adrian Benford, of Mildenhall CID, described the incident as a "terrifying ordeal" which left the victim and his friends "extremely shaken."

"This must have been a terrifying ordeal for the occupants of the house," he said. "They were all extremely shaken but fortunately no-one was injured."

The first man is described as white, with pale skin and around 6ft 3ins tall. He was around 26 years old, of medium build and clean-shaven.

At the time of the incident, he wore a blue hooded top with a grey diagonal pattern, dark blue beanie hat and jeans. A black scarf covered most of his face, and he carried a light blue metal baseball bat.

The second was of mixed race appearance, around 28 years old and around 5ft 7ins tall. He was of small build with short, dark hair, and wore a beige casual jacket, woollen hat and black ski type neck protector.

And the third was 5ft 5ins tall, of medium build with a round face. He wore a multi-coloured rainbow scarf around his face, a dark "puffa" jacket, dark blue jeans and a dark beanie hat. He was carrying a kitchen knife.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact Mildenhall CID on 01284 774100 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.