A gang of four Polish burglars who attacked an academic in his own home in August, leaving him with life-changing injuries, have pleaded guilty to the attack.

The balaclava-clad men burst into the home of Paul Kohler, 55, and demanded money before brutally attacking him and tying up and threatening his newly-wed wife Samantha MacArthur.

They were only saved from death or very serious injury by one of their four daughters, Eloise, who was upstairs with her boyfriend Geraint Ellis at the time, and managed to dial 999.

Police raced to the blood-spattered scene and managed to catch two of the men but the other two fled.

Despite his injuries, which included a shattered left eye socket, Mr Kohler chased them down the street.

One was arrested shortly afterwards but Oskar Pawlowichz, 29, went on the run after the incident in Kings Road, Wimbledon, on August 11.

Police feared he had gone back to Poland but he was finally tracked down and arrested in Herefordshire a month later.

Mr Kohler, who is head of the law department at the School of Oriental and African Studies, was still receiving treatment for multiple facial injuries and bruising to the body and limbs three months after the break-in.

At Kingston Crown Court this morning Dawid Tychon, 29, of Elison Road, Streatham Vale denied grievous bodily harm (GBH) but admitted aggravated burglary.

Mariusz Tomaszewski, 32, of Pitcairn Road, Tooting admitted aggravated burglary and GBH.

Oskar Pawlowichz, 29, of no fixed abode denied GBH but admitted aggravated burglary.

Pawel Honc, 23, of no fixed address - had already admitted both aggravated burglary and causing grievous bodily harm.

Police said the men had previous convictions for violence in Poland and Pawlowichz had dumped jewellery and laptops stolen from the home in the family's garden at the time. 

Police said Pawlowichz and Tychon had been identified using CCTV, forensic testing and links with known associates and that Tomaszewski and Honc had been arrested at Mr Kohler's home. 

Counsel for all the men apologised to the family and said they regretted their actions.

The men will appear again at the court on January 29 for a hearing before sentencing the next day.

Judge Susan Tapping said only a substantial custodial sentence would be appropriate.

There were two female interpreters in court to help the men today.

Mr Kohler and his wife were in court for the hearing. They spoke to the Wimbledon Guardian about how they felt. 

One theory police investigated was that the gang was looking for takings from the family’s tiny cabaret bar, the Cellar Door, in central London - although Mr Kohler remained convinced it was a simple case of mistaken identity.

A former pupil of Jesus College in Cambridge, where the couple got married in April this year, Mr Kohler used to run the May balls with Prince Edward, and his passion for event planning continued long after he graduated.

The family was overwhelmed by the support of the community after the ordeal with dozens of bunches of flowers arriving at their house as well as offers of help.