Girrawheen home invasion: Perth couple Ninette and Philip Simons speak out to help catch men who bashed them

Frightened, horrified and devastated.

That’s how Ninette and Philip Simons feel after they were the victims of a shocking home invasion at their Girrawheen home earlier this month which has caused widespread revulsion across Perth and even sickened the State’s top cop.

In an effort to catch the culprits who attacked them, the Simons’ bravely agreed to speak to the media this week, during which they recounted in detail the terrible events that led to them being bashed, tied up and robbed of a significant amount of jewellery.

The couple were targeted by three men about 7pm on April 16. The three men callously gained entry to the couple’s Allison Drive home by pretending to be police officers.

Ms Simons, a 73-year-old cancer survivor, said the attack had left her feeling terrified and in a lot of pain.

“I am not the same person I used to be, I can hardly stand or walk,” Ms Simons said.

“I used to be able to go for dancing and its highly unlikely I will do it again.

“The dizziness is driving me crazy.”

Ms Simons recounted how on the night of the attack, her and her husband were in separate rooms watching TV when the three men got into the home.

“I just came out of my bedroom when I saw this tall guy with glasses and he had a badge hanging from his neck,” she said.

“I turned around and he was trying to put the handcuffs on me, which he never did.

“The next minute I was getting punched by the second bloke who had a mask on his face saying ‘don’t scream’ and he was belting me, which went on for a good half an hour.

“I was thrown to the ground and he said ‘lie face down.’

“I managed to get up (he) pushed me back and I hit my head hard against the tiles in my bathroom, by which time I was pouring with blood from my mouth and my nose.

“I thought I was dying ... I don’t know how I survived this.”

Mr Simons, 76, said the three men got into his home by telling him they had a warrant to search his house for stolen gold.

“I opened the door ... and one bloke grabbed me,” Mr Simons said.

“He threw me on the floor and jumped on my back … and tied me up.

I could still hear the screaming and punching

“They pushed my head into the floor and said ‘don’t look at me.’”

Mr Simons said he pleaded with the three men to leave his wife alone as they punched her.

“Leave her alone I said she’s a cancer patient, she’s just come out of hospital,” he said.

“But I could still hear the screaming and punching.”

Mr Simons said the three men took rings, jewellery and cash from inside the home before leaving. They even took a bottle of Scotch whiskey.

Only one of the items taken — a necklace — has so far been recovered.

Mr Simons said his wife’s injuries in the immediate aftermath of the attack had devastated him.

“Her face was smashed up and bleeding … I just didn’t know what to do,” he said.

“The bathroom was full of blood.”

Ms Simons — who recently underwent three surgeries — said her family had been left horrified and traumatised by what had happened.

“My grandson was more less first on the scene with his dad, he is traumatised,” she said.

“Its made them very angry.”

Ms Simons said she felt insecure by the fact the three thugs who attacked them were still on the run.

She said she hoped the three men were caught soon, or at the very least had the decency to hand themselves in to police.

“We didn’t deserve this treatment,” she said.

“I wish they give themselves up and let justice take its course.”

She said the public could play a big role in helping catch the three men.

I saw the photo of the victim this morning and it made me sick to my stomach

“I just want to plead with the public to help the police catch them, so that we can all feel safe again,” she said.

Less than 24 hours after the attack, Police Commissioner Col Blanch said the home invasion was a “disgrace”.

“I saw the photo of the victim this morning and it made me sick to my stomach,” Mr Blanch said at the time.

“To have people at home suffer that type of attack is a disgrace and I hope those officers bring those (offenders) to justice as soon as possible.

“Any of us would be terribly shaken by that, it sickens me.”

Police say two of the offenders are about 165cm tall and the third male is between 185cm to 190cm tall.

They are all described as having olive complexions and were wearing dark coloured long pants, shirts and long-sleeve jackets.

Detectives are urging anyone with any information relating to the incident, or who saw or has CCTV or dash-cam vision, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report online here.