Briton held 'for torturing rival'

Brian Avery, 47, was held after his 40-year-old love rival victim, whom police have not named, managed to raise the alarm and he was rescued by officers.

The brutal attack took place in Camerlata, a suburb of the northern Italian town of Como, where Avery has lived for the last three years offering private English lessons.

The victim is the husband of one of his students, a 41-year-old Chinese woman named as Hx Ling. Police say Avery has been giving her private lessons for the last year.

Avery, originally from Ramsgate, Kent, has already appeared before Judge Luciano Storaci in an attempt to get bail. Despite pleading his innocence and claiming mistaken identity, he is being held in custody at Bassone jail.

Police said the victim, who needed hospital treatment, was attacked by Avery as he walked to his underground garage.

A pistol was thrust into his back and he was allegedly ordered to his garage by Avery, who then tied him to a chair and tortured him.

The attack stopped only after the victim managed to shout out when he heard a car pulling into the underground garage complex.

Avery zapped him with the Taser and pistol-whipped him once more before fleeing, while his shocked and bloodied victim was comforted by the passers-by, who also called police. Avery was arrested a short while later as he left his nearby home.

Avery is facing charges of kidnap, aggravated assault and illegal detention of a firearm and faces a minimum of 15 years in jail.