Man jailed for taking on burglar is suicidal, says lawyer

London: The millionaire jailed for fighting back against a knife-wielding burglar who threatened to kill his family is feared to be suicidal.

Munir Hussain's barrister, Michael Wolkind, said: "We are afraid he will harm himself and it won't just be a gesture."

On Monday, a judge jailed Hussain, 53, for two-and-a-half years. But the raider, Walid Salem, 57, who has convictions stretching back 30 years, was spared prison.

Described as gentle and a pillar of his community, Hussain's faith in British justice lies shattered.

The owner of a successful soundproofing company, Hussain received threats before the case came to court — and his family are often too frightened to stay at home for fear of reprisal attacks.

Threatened with death

Hussain's nightmare began in September last year when he, his wife, 18-year-old daughter and sons aged 21 and 16 returned from a mosque to find three raiders in their home in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

The family were tied up and told to lie down if they did not want to be killed. One of the boys managed to flee and alert Hussain's brother Tokeer, 35, who lived nearby.

Hussain took the fight to the intruders by throwing a coffee table at them. Then he and Tokeer — who was jailed for 39 months — chased the gang and brought Salem to the ground in a front garden before attacking him.

Judge John Reddihough said many would think Salem "deserved what happened to him". But he said the rule of law would collapse if he spared Hussain jail.

Salem's condition meant he was unable to enter a plea to false imprisonment. He was given a non-custodial sentence in October.