Suspect held over raid on mansion of Britain's richest businessmen

Detectives investigating a break-in in which one of Britain's richest businessmen was attacked have arrested a 48-year-old man, police said today.

Police said the suspect was detained in Liverpool yesterday in connection with the raid on the home of former Phones4U chief John Caudwell.

Mr Caudwell suffered a gash to his head when he was attacked with a crowbar at Broughton Hall near Eccleshall, Staffordshire, on Monday night.

His partner, Claire Johnson, and a female staff member were also assaulted, although neither was physically injured.

A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: "Detectives investigating the aggravated burglary at Broughton Hall have arrested a 48-year-old man from Liverpool.

"The man was arrested by officers from the Staffordshire and Merseyside police forces in Liverpool on Wednesday afternoon.

"He was initially detained in custody in Merseyside before being transferred to Staffordshire Police's northern area custody facility in Stoke-on-Trent, where he remained overnight.

"The man was arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary."

In a statement issued last night, Mr Caudwell condemned the actions of the men who burst into the mansion as brutal.

Mr Caudwell, who sold the Caudwell Group for a reported £1.4 billion in 2006, said: "On Monday evening at 8.15pm, a group broke into my home and burst into the kitchen.

"In attempting to defend myself and my family, I was attacked by a man with a crowbar.

"I suffered a gash to my forehead, to my elbow and damage to my other arm and my back.

"They took every item of jewellery that Claire and I possessed, plus some cash.

"Thankfully, nobody else was hurt physically, although no doubt the shock of the event and the brutal actions and language of the attackers will live on for some time."

In recent years, Mr Caudwell has become well-known for his work with Caudwell Children, a charity that provides specialist equipment, treatment and therapies for sick, autistic and disabled youngsters across the UK.

In his statement, Mr Caudwell added: "I would appeal to anybody who might have any knowledge or suspicions about the identity of these people to come forward to the police, so that they can be brought to justice as quickly as possible and limit any harm or damage that they may do to others."