Machete gang slash gym boss and threaten to cut off his toes in terrifying £4,000 raid

Masked machete gang slash gym boss, 38, and threaten to cut off his toes before attacking his dog in terrifying £4,000 raid

  • Three masked men broke into gym boss Jonathan Hair’s home in Sunderland
  • Attacked the 38-year-old with machete and hammer before demanding money
  • Raid coincided with collecting takings for his Skinnypigs fitness sessions
  • He has offered a £3,000 reward for information leading to their capture

A fitness firm boss has offered a £3,000 reward to catch masked raiders who broke into his house before attacking him with a hammer and a machete. 

Jonathan Hair, 38, was repeatedly stabbed and his English bulldogs were also hurt by the three robbers who burst into his Wearside home.

The businessman, who founded women’s fitness chain Skinnypigs said he was met with the ‘surreal’ sight and first thought he was being pranked by his friends coming home from the pub.

A fitness firm boss has offered a £3,000 reward to catch masked raiders who broke into his house before attacking him with a hammer and a machete

But within seconds one of the men was swinging a machete towards him, forcing him to grab hold of the attacker’s wrist to stop the blows.

‘They were shouting demanding me to tell them where the money was,’ Mr Hair told the Sunderland Echo.

‘They said they were going to cut my toes off, then he immediately start swinging at them.

He added that a second man then began to hit him over the head with a hammer, as the assailant armed with a machete cut his legs ‘to ribbons’. 

Jonathan Hair, 38, was repeatedly stabbed and his English bulldog was also hurt by the three robbers who burst into his Wearside home

Jonathan Hair, 38, was repeatedly stabbed and his English bulldog was also hurt by the three robbers who burst into his Wearside home

Jonathan Hair, 38, was repeatedly stabbed and his English bulldog was also hurt by the three robbers who burst into his Wearside home

‘They were all dressed in black with balaclavas but they wouldn’t let me look up so maybe they thought I’d recognise them.

The men continued to hit Mr Hair, slashing his fingers and causing him to lose ‘a lot of blood’.

Mr Hair said that he then revealed he had received money from his sick father which he was using for a mortgage deposit, and that it was in the living room.

Mr Hair said that he then revealed he had received money from his sick father which he was using for a mortgage deposit, and that it was in the living room

Mr Hair said that he then revealed he had received money from his sick father which he was using for a mortgage deposit, and that it was in the living room

When the intruders fled with the £4,000, Mr Hair says he climbed upstairs to use his phone to call the police but struggled because of cuts on his hands and fingers.

He was found by neighbours on the bathroom floor who immediately called an ambulance.

The raid, on January 23, coincided with him collecting takings from his Skinnypigs franchisees, which are run all over the North East of England.

Mr Hair is recovering from his ordeal, but said his bulldogs Pork and Chop were still shaken by the brutal attack

Mr Hair is recovering from his ordeal, but said his bulldogs Pork and Chop were still shaken by the brutal attack

The businessman believed the gang turned up with weapons knowing he was a strong fitness instructor.

Mr Hair is recovering from his ordeal, but said his bulldogs Pork and Chop were still shaken by the brutal attack. 

Mr Hair has offered a £3,000 reward for information which leads to the conviction of his attackers.

Northumbria Police said three men aged 37, 32 and 22 have been arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary and have been released under investigation following the January 23 attack.

Anyone with information is asked to call 101.

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