Stunned into silence

EXCLUSIVE By Nicola Cowell

A BRITISH expatriate has been threatened at gunpoint by a man he is testifying against in a charity fraud case.

In a terrifying confrontation, the man turned up at Eddie Taylor’s home and accosted him with a stungun in an attempt to scare him into withdrawing as a witness.

Arriving with a tattooed accomplice – who was apparently armed with an axe – the English assailant tried to smash down his front door, before attempting to steal his car.

“It was terrifying and completely unexpected,” Taylor, 54, told the Olive Press. “I guess I am lucky that my only injury is a broken toe.”

Taylor, who works for a rival newspaper, was at his Estepona home on Saturday evening with girlfriend Rose, when they heard noises outside and the dog barking.

When he went outside to investigate, he saw two men, one who he quickly recognised as his former boss – who we are not naming for legal reasons – trying to break into his Land Rover.

Taylor, who has reported the attack to police, said: “I approached him and asked what he was doing and he shouted: ‘I was going to steal your car in exchange for all the money you have cost me’.

“Next thing he is running over to me with a stungun.

“I tried to run back into the house but tripped and fell over, just as he fired the first shot, which missed me.

“I managed to get inside and slammed the metal door so they couldn’t get in, and my girlfriend Rose called the police.”

In a chilling twist, the man picked up Taylor’s dog and held it up by the throat against his fence saying: “If you don’t give me the keys to your car, I’ll kill your dog.”

He added: “By good fortune one of my neighbours has really big dogs that were going crazy, while another turned up just at the right moment with a machete.

“Fortunately these guys got scared and ran away.”

But chillingly, before leaving, his attacker – who is apparently being sought by police in the UK – said: “I’ll leave you in peace today, but I’ll be back tomorrow to kill you and your dog.”

Taylor, who has been left shaken by the events, has been acting as a witness in an investigation against the man for fraud.

He said police were probing his satellite TV company – which has now gone bust – as well a charity event.

According to Taylor, the man organised an event for the Rhys Daniels trust in 2007, but ended up pocketing an alleged 26,000 euros.

Said Taylor: “They are just trying to intimidate me, but of course I will continue with the case. These sorts of people just do not deserve to be free and on the streets.”