Thanks guys just tried again, as per your post Nino I tried until the tool couldn't go any further. I have had a few drinks now so Im a bit less gentle/angry with it so managed to get the tool to go to the hilt. That seemed to be do the trick and I got 3 out in a row within a coule of seconds. D'oh!

Honestly I tried for over an hour before hammering away at angles and trying to be gentle as well as force it as far as  possible but with no luck. I was actually worried about slipping with the force I was using before and the tool going into my other hand.

I have to agree Niño it's a crappy tool, I started to bend the end of it earlier today even with just a little bit of persuasion. I was just waiting for it to snap. Surely a sturdier tool could be made for the job.