TV personality and former undercover reporter Donal MacIntyre has been beaten up in an East Molesey winebar in a suspected revenge attack for his expose on Chelsea football hooligans nine years ago.
MacIntyre, 43, who was the runner up in ITV’s Dancing on Ice competition this year, and his wife Ameera De La Rose, 32, were both attacked by four smartly dressed men in the Cloud 9 bar in Bridge Road on Wednesday evening (June 17).
Mr MacIntyre told the Sun newspaper that when he entered the bar, four men shouted “you grass, you snitch” at him.
He said he was then knocked to the ground and his wife was hurt as she attempted to protect him.
MacIntyre and his wife left the scene, but he later collapsed and was taken to hospital.
He suffered a black eye and a cut to his face, while his wife suffered bruising to her face, arms and legs.
The presenter of the BBC series MacIntyre Undercover told the Sun he believed the assault was connected to his 2000 investigation into the Chelsea Headhunters hooligan gang, which led to the conviction of five men.
He said: “I’ve had kidnapping threats, been assaulted before, had my car trashed and I've had to move many times.
“I'll take those slings and arrows, but it crosses a line when my wife gets caught in the crossfire.
"They were trying to get me, missed me and then got her. She is extremely distressed.”
On Thursday (June 18) a 48-year-old man from Addlestone was arrested on suspicion of assault and was released on bail until Thursday, July 30.
target="_blank">Surrey Police said investigations were underway to trace other suspects.
Any witnesses to the incident should call Surrey Police on 0845 125 2222 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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