Elderly Couple Terrorised by Burglar Who Forced Them to Drink Black Liquid
An elderly couple from Oldham have recounted the horrifying moment they were awakened from their sleep by a remarkably calm burglar who brandished two kitchen knives and ordered them to drink a mysterious black liquid. The terrifying incident occurred in the Royton area of Greater Manchester, leaving the victims traumatised and fearful in their own home.
The Nighttime Intruder
Maureen Parkisson, 79, was the first to encounter the intruder when she felt a hand on her shoulder at approximately 5am on Tuesday morning. Initially believing it was her husband Roland, she was shocked to see a hooded man wearing a hi-vis jacket and gloves standing beside their bed.
"I saw his face, he had a hi-vis jacket on, he had gloves on and a hood," Maureen told the Manchester Evening News. "I said, 'what do you want?!' And he said 'I'm working outside.' I said, 'at 5am in the morning? I don't think so!'"
The burglar, described as unusually composed throughout the ordeal, then produced two breadknives he had taken from the couple's kitchen and demanded they surrender their bank cards and PIN numbers.
The Sinister Black Liquid
In a particularly disturbing development, the intruder produced a container of black liquid and poured it into an empty glass from the bedside table. He instructed Roland to drink the substance, claiming it would make him sleep.
Roland complied by tasting the liquid but immediately spat it out, unable to identify what the mysterious substance might have been. The couple remain uncertain about the nature of the black liquid and its potential effects.
Psychological Aftermath
Both Maureen and Roland, who have been married for five decades and have lived in their Royton home since 1986, described the profound psychological impact of the break-in.
"I keep seeing him, it keeps replaying in my head," Roland revealed about the intruder.
Maureen added: "I just see his face all the time now, he was only a young chap. He looked between 20-40 years old. We're still in shock, we take so long to go to bed now."
The grandmother, who has recently recovered from a broken hip and has a daughter in hospital, expressed her distress: "I've had a horrible year... I keep thinking when is it going to finish. It's horrible, we've been in this house since 1986 and we have never had any problems."
Police Investigation and Linked Incident
Greater Manchester Police have confirmed they are investigating two aggravated burglaries in the Royton area that are believed to be connected. In a separate but related incident, an 82-year-old man was attacked in his home around 7.20pm on the same day.
According to police statements, the second victim discovered a man hiding beneath his dining table. The intruder overpowered him, struck him on the head with his own walking stick, tied his hands and ankles with a cable, placed him in a cupboard, and inflicted a further head injury with a knife.
The offender stole the victim's wallet and demanded his bank card PIN, which was later used at an ATM on Oldham Road near the junction of the old Edge Lane Launderette around midnight. Despite his injuries, the elderly man managed to free himself and call for help through his daughter.
Police Response and Community Warning
Detective Chief Inspector Zahid Latif from Oldham CID emphasised the seriousness with which police are treating these crimes: "We are taking this extremely seriously. Neighbourhood officers are carrying out increased patrols in the area, and Oldham Council and Adult Social Care have been fully briefed."
"Our enquiries are well underway to locate and identify the man responsible for intimidating and committing these horrific crimes against vulnerable members of our community," DCI Latif continued. "GMP will not tolerate this behaviour. Detectives will be relentless in their search for this offender, and we will use every resource available to bring him into custody."
The detective issued a community warning, urging residents to ensure windows and doors remain locked even when at home and to check on elderly neighbours who may feel unsettled. Police have asked anyone with information to contact them on 101, use GMP LiveChat quoting log 39 of 16/02/2026, or call 999 in an emergency.
The elderly victims of both incidents are currently safe, with the 82-year-old man receiving treatment at Royal Oldham Hospital for his injuries. The investigation continues as police work to identify and apprehend the individual responsible for these terrifying attacks on vulnerable community members.
