A man had his hands tied and was assaulted during a violent home robbery in which thieves made off in the victim’s Bentley Continental.

It happened in Blewitt Street, Dudley, between 6-7pm on 19 November after he opened the door to what he believed was a delivery driver. However, the man carrying a parcel turned out to be one of five who’d plotted to break into the semi-detached house.

Once the door was open the bogus delivery driver forced his way in followed by accomplices who emerged from a white Transit van. They bound the victim’s hands with cable ties and punched him in the face while making demands for cash and keys to the Bentley.

They also forced his wife to lie face down on the floor while they searched their home for around 45 minutes.

Officers have released CCTV showing the first offender approaching the house in the hope someone will recognise him and get in touch. He’s described as a light skinned black man, possibly mixed race, around 5ft 8ins to 5ft 10ins tall and in 30s or 40s. A force spokesperson said:

"We’ve trawled road cameras but have not been able to locate the Transit van or the Bentley since the offence. It’s suspected the offenders swapped number plates on the Bentley – which is reg plate NK10 CCX – shortly after it was taken.

"We’re asking anyone who was driving in the area at the time to check dash-cam footage to see if they have caught the Bentley and van on camera. Or if anyone recalls seeing men changing number plates on the Bentley somewhere nearby to also get in touch."

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or message officers through live chat quoting crime ref 20/1896098/21. Alternatively you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.