Crime: Gang torture wealthy man; CRIME: Masked thugs leave stab victim hanging.

POLICE were today hunting masked thieves who tortured a wealthy property developer in a 12-hour ordeal, including piercing his legs.

Maurice Nixon, aged 50, was set upon by robbers wearing ski masks as he returned to his luxury home in Harvington, near Evesham.

The businessman was forced inside his home at gunpoint and had his hands, feet and body bound with plastic cables before being tied to a bannister.

The gang pushed a screwdriver into his legs repeatedly, leaving six wounds up to six inches deep.

Mr Nixon also had his upper teeth knocked out with a crowbar before the gang fled.

His ordeal happened last Sunday from around 8pm.

Mr Nixon, who lives alone and runs parts of Portobello and Old Spitalfields markets in London, was found 14 hours later by a business associate who arrived for a meeting.

He was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital, where he was still being treated last night for leg wounds, facial injuries and circulatory problems.

West Mercia Police confirmed that Mr Nixon's family had put up a "substantial" reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the robbers.

Eamon Keely, who found Mr Nixon at 9.30am on Monday and raised the alarm, said: "I shouted 'Maurice' and he shouted 'Eamon.'

"I opened the door. He was hanging off the stairs, upside down."

Mr Nixon's sister Kim Nixon, aged 48, said: "That is torture, it is despicable.

"Doctors are worried about his kidneys and the toxins from the holes in his legs. We are all extremely upset and very shocked that this could happen and the whole family is devastated.

"He is a very generous and a well liked member of the community.

"We are very lucky he is alive.

The paramedics were amazed he had not had a heart attack."

Det Sgt Duncan Lloyd, of Kidderminster CID, said: "This was a very unusual incident and we are still trying to establish exactly what happened.

"The victim is understandably very distressed and is still being treated for his injuries in hospital at Worcester."

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Kidderminster CID on 0300 3333000 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111