British teacher accused of torturing love rival - and then blasting him with a Taser

Brian Avery, 47, was arrested in Italy after allegedly kidnapping his 40-year-old love rival at gunpoint and hitting him in the face with a pistol.

The victim, who has not been named, apparently managed to raise the alarm and was rescued by police officers.

The attack is said to have taken place on Sunday night in Camerlata, a suburb of the northern Italian town of Como, where Avery has given private English lessons for the last three years.

The victim is the husband of one of his students, a 41-year-old Chinese woman named as Hx Ling. Avery had been giving her private tuition for the past year. The Briton - whose full name is Curtis Brian Avery - is facing charges of kidnap, aggravated assault and illegal possession of a firearm. He faces a minimum of 15 years in jail if found guilty.

He has already appeared before a judge who refused him bail. Despite pleading his innocence and claiming it was a case of mistaken identity, he is being held in custody at Bassone prison.

Police said the husband - who needed hospital treatment after the incident - was attacked as he walked towards an underground car park.

In a scene reminiscent of the film Reservoir Dogs, a pistol was thrust into his back and he was ordered into the garage, then tied to a chair and tortured.

The attack stopped only after the victim managed to shout out when he heard a vehicle pulling into the car park.

Avery allegedly zapped the man with the Taser then pistol-whipped him once more before running away.

The shocked and bloodied victim was discovered and comforted by other users of the car park, who also called the police.

When officers arrived the victim named Avery as the attacker.

He was arrested a short while later as he left his home nearby. Police said that they had discovered several stun guns there.

A police spokesman in Turin said yesterday: "The victim told us that the English teacher had been having a relationship for some time with his wife.

"He suffered serious injuries and he is still in hospital where he will remain for another week at least."

A spokesman for the British Consulate in Milan said: "We are aware of the case and have offered assistance.

"Someone has been to see Mr Avery in prison but other than that there is nothing else we can say."

Mr Avery's father, also known as Brian, said he had not spoken to his son for years.

The 68-year-old carpenter, from Margate in Kent, added: "We had a massive falling-out.

"We broke off all ties in the end because he got himself into trouble so many times.

"About 15 years ago, he served four years in prison for fraud and he was only a youngster then. It's because of that that we fell out.

"Five years ago, we got a Christmas card from him and my wife called and spoke to him. His mother and I split up and she now lives in France."

He said: "He's not a hothead, but he will defend himself if he thinks he is being wronged.

"He's not a wimp by any means. He wouldn't let someone pull the wool over his eyes.

"I suppose now he's in Italy and this has happened, he'll be on his own as well."

He added that his son left Britain around three years ago.