Former Hornets player Mark Morris 'shaken' after raid at his Bournemouth pub (From Watford Observer)

Former Hornets player Mark Morris 'shaken' after raid at his Bournemouth pub

12:15pm Monday 20th July 2009

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A former Hornets player was “very shaken” after being threatened with a knife during a night-time raid at his south coast pub.

Mark Morris, 46, was asleep when he was woken by the sounds of two men who had broken into the Crown and Sceptre public house, in the Northbourne area of Bournemouth, at around 2.30am on Friday morning.

When he confronted the two men, one of whom was wearing a 'Scream' skull mask, he was threatened with a kitchen knife.

Mr Morris, a centre-half who played at Vicarage Road from 1987 to 1989, returned to his bedroom and barricaded himself inside as the burglars attempted to smash their way in.

However, they fled the pub when they heard him telephone the police.

Detective Sergeant Matt Stacey, of Bournemouth CID, said: “This was a very serious incident at a popular local pub, which was very distressing for the landlord involved. Fortunately no-one was hurt and no items were taken.”

Mr Morris joined the Hornets from Wimbledon and made 41 league appearances in two years at the club. He was transferred to Sheffield United in 1989 and finished his career at Bournemouth, where he played more than 200 games between 1991 and 1996.

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