A STOCKPORT businessman who was brutally beaten as he defended his livelihood has hit out at the "video game mentality" that sees armed robbers violently attack their victims without a thought.

Mark Ruby, owner of the Kro Bar chain, was repeatedly bludgeoned with a baseball bat and metal bar as a gang of six men made off with thousands of pounds from his bar on Heaton Moor Road, Heaton Moor.

The group kicked down the door after closing time and beat Mark, 37, around the head, back and legs as he lay on the floor. They shouted that they would kill him. He was then marched upstairs and made to empty the safe before the gang fled leaving him needing hospital treatment and 12 stitches to a gash on his head.

Mark, who lives in Heaton Moor, said: "They are so brazen, they just don’t care. It is a video game mentality of beat them up into submission first, ask questions later.

"There were no holds barred, there was a proper swinging of bats. These incidents are becoming a habit and getting violent and frequent. It is sickening. I’m very angry because I - and other people - had worked very hard for the money they stole. It is a shame this sort of thing has become a fact of life."

The attack happened on Sunday April 6 at around 1am when Mark was alone and about to leave.

As soon as he turned off the lights, the gang smashed down the door and he confronted them. But his attempts to stop the robbers ended when he was beaten to the floor and blows rained down on him. All the while gang members were screaming obscenities and shouting "where's the money?".

After emptying the safe they ran off, it is believed in the direction of Gibson Road.

Mark said: "As I was on the floor being beaten over the head I put my hands up and said "enough". I thought it would be futile to put up resistance. It has made me more wary."

Security measures at the bar have since been stepped up to avoid a repeat.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the robbery and say four of the men were dressed in black, while another wore a beige hooded top. Mark estimates the gang to be aged in their late teens or early 20s.

Anyone with information can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.