Dragons' Den entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne: angry with Twitter threats to his daughter

Entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne offered £50,000 to anyone who breaks the arms of a man who threatened to kidnap his daughter, before later withdrawing his threat.

The Dragons’ Den star was furious when his daughter Hollie was targeted on Twitter by a Russian man calling himself Yuri Vasilyev, who vowed to snatch the 25 year old if her father didn’t hand over £35,000.

He wrote: “Dear Dragon, 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.”

He later added: “Duncan Bannatyne – Hollie is going to get hurt. We will bring pain and fear. You should have expected us. We are the men of Belarus. getting closer you. and you coward.

“We do not give up. We will stand tall. You should have paid. £35,000 to stop it.

“Contact us to pay. We are little watching. Expect us. We are the men of Belarus.”

The furious father-of-six took to his twitter page and told his 370,000 followers: “I offer £25,000 reward for the capture of the coward – double if his arms are broken first. “I am serious”

Duncan, 62, then released a press statement, saying: “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.”

His spokesman said police were investigating, and added that Hollie was “safe where she is”.