An 82-year-old former secret service investigator was threatened with a wooden pole by three men who smashed through the door of his Oxford home.

Kazimir Fedorowicz said they used it to ram through a glass pane in the front door of his flat.

One of them then lunged at the former Polish Intelligence Service worker with the pole.

Mr Fedorowicz grabbed it and tried to wrestle it from the man, but was struck by a sudden pain in his chest and let go.

The offenders ran off leaving Mr Fedorowicz, who has suffered three heart attacks before, struggling to breathe.

Mr Fedorowicz, who lives in a flat above the Saffron restaurant in Banbury Road, Summertown, said it was the second time people had tried to break into his home in the past seven months.

He said: "It was about midnight on Monday, February 16, and I was getting ready for bed, when I heard a loud bang outside. I went to look and then saw this pole being smashed through my door.

"There were three men and one of them went for me. Although I am old, I still remember all my training from time with the intelligence service and I'm still fast on my feet.

"I grabbed the pole and held on to it to show I was not just going to let them in my home.

"Then came this pain, I thought I was having another heart attack. The men ran off and I thought I was going to faint. I felt dizzy and my vision was blurred."

Mr Fedorowicz called 999 and spoke to a civilian call handler, who advised him to remain calm and talked him through breathing exercises to regulate his heart beat.

Two police officers from Cowley station and ambulance crews arrived at the flat shortly after.

Mr Fedorowicz was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, and treated for breathing difficulties.

He said: "I am so grateful to the police and ambulance workers, particularly the call handler I first spoke to.

Police arranged for his door to be boarded up and are investigating the crime. Anyone with information should call police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on

0800 555111.