DRAGONS' DENstar Duncan Bannatyne has been forced to delete tweets after offering a £50,000 reward for anyone who would break the arms of a man who used Twitter to threaten his daughter.
Someone going by the name of Yuri Vasilyev tweeted 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?”
After revealing that police had been informed of the threat, Bannatyne told his 371,653 Twitter followers: “I offer £25,000 reward for the capture of the coward who calls himself @YuriVasilyev_ Double if his arms are broken first.” He added: “I am serious btw [by the way]. I think he is in Moscow.”
Bannatyne’s strategy appears to echo the plot of the film Ransom, in which a millionaire, played by Mel Gibson, puts out a bounty on the criminals who have kidnapped his son.
A number of Twitter users were quick to take Bannatyne to task for appearing to solicit violence.
“Just read it thought it was a bit irresponsible of @DuncanBannatyne. Some nutter will take it seriously,” wrote one.
Bannatyne replied: “Good I want you to.”
Bannatyne’s agent confirmed that the police had been informed.
On Tuesday afternoon, Bannatyne released a 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.”
The entrepreneur, author and philanthropist made no mention of the deleted tweets. – ( Guardianservice)