TV chef held hostage
A television chef and her partner were held hostage and their home ransacked early today.
Their ordeal began around 4.30am when the gang broke into the house in the Shore Road area of Strangford, Co Down.
After an hour Clare Connery’s partner managed to escape and raise the alarm at a neighbour’s house.
The gang made off in the couple’s car, which was found abandoned a short time later.
Restaurant owner Ms Connery, who has made a number of cookery series on local television, declined to comment on the incident.
The robbers also broke into another house in Shore Road, smashing a window and threatening the occupants.
They demanded the keys of their car and drove off. It was later found crashed close to Ms Connery’s vehicle.
It is believed that one of the gang may have sustained a minor injury during the incident.
A third car, a Volkswagen Polo, was discovered on fire close by and it is thought the gang had used it to drive to the area.
Two hours later, a white Renault Clio was also stolen from the area.
Chief Inspector Bill Dorman said Ms Connery and her partner had endured a terrifying experience.
"To be woken at four in the morning, to find someone standing at your stairwell and then to be held hostage, to be threatened, abused, frightened out of your life. And they are frightened."
