Police probe ‘blackmail threats’ to Duncan Bannatyne

Police are investigating after threats were made via email and on the social networking site, Twitter.

Durham Police said the threats appeared to originate from an email address based in Russia.

The 62-year-old entrepreneur, whose business is based in Darlington, issued a statement which said: “My family is well protected but I take any threat to them very seriously and will do all I can to ensure the person or people involved are caught.”

Reports suggest that Mr Bannatyne had deleted tweets after offering a £50,000 reward for anyone who broke the arms of the man issuing the threats.

It is also reported that someone calling himself Yuri Vasilyev tweeted Mr Bannatyne three days ago, saying: “I’m looking for a £35,000 investment to stop us hurting your Hollie Bannatyne. We will bring hurt and pain into your life. We are watching her. She is very attractive. Want photos?”

Some Twitter users criticised him for appearing to solicit violence, and he then deleted the tweets and changed his offer to “£30,000 reward for info leading to his arrest”, the reports said.