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Ian Wright's wife Nancy Hallam was held at knifepoint as thugs threatened to mutilate their children


Ian Wright is heavily rumoured to be going into this year’s I’m A Celebrity 2019 line-up , and no doubt it’ll be quite the wrench being away from his family.

The former Arsenal footballer and sports pundit has previously showed his nerves of steel after discovering his beloved wife and children had been threatened while he was halfway across the world.

Back in June 2014, Ian was working at the World Cup in Brazil.

During his absence, his wife Nancy Hallam was left terrified when four masked burglars broke into their £2million north London home and held her at knifepoint.

Ian Wright
Ian Wright’s wife Nancy Hallam was left shaken by the masked attack on her home

The thugs each barged into the Kensal Rise property with weapons at around 9.20pm on June 18, and demanded to know where Nancy and Ian kept their safe.

The couple’s two young children, Lola and Roxanne, were asleep in a separate room when the raid took place – with the burglars even threatening to cut off the kids’ fingers if Nancy didn’t hand over her valuables.

One also urged his pal: “Punch her, punch her, kill her!”

The masked criminals made off with Ian’s MBE, presented to him by the Queen in 2000, and a rare watch gifted by his former teammate Dennis Bergkamp, among other possessions and a sum of cash.

A sentimental watch from Arsenal FC to commemorate its double win was also taken.

Ian immediately flow home from Brazil, cutting his punditry work short, and furiously tweeted: “You won’t get away with it.”

Ian Wright
Ian raced home from Brazil after hearing Nancy had been held at knifepoint as thugs robbed their home

His manager Steve Kutner said at the time: “It was a terrifying ordeal. They marched Ian’s wife from room to room.

“I would like to thank ITV for helping Ian to get home as quickly as possible.”

Three men were later arrested, with Ian tweeting: “The net’s closing in eh scumbags? Rats will always be rats!”

Speaking to the Sun a week after the raid, Ian explained: “It was not even dark outside, so Nancy felt safe answering.

“As soon as she opened the door, they barged in, four of them wearing masks and holding Stanley knives.

“Next thing they were holding a knife to her throat and yelling at her to show them where our safe is.”

ITV World Cup Final pundits
Ian had been working on the World Cup out in Brazil when his family were targeted

The men threatened to mutilate Nancy’s fingers and do the same with her children.

“Throughout it, Nancy was praying the children wouldn’t wake up, or come downstairs to see what was going on,” Ian went on.

“It would have been devastating for them to see what was happening – we’re both so relieved that didn’t happen.

“But they started getting louder and more desperate, pulling and pushing Nancy all over the place.

“She was even physically dragged upstairs as they thought the safe was up there.

Ian was full of praise for Nancy, who begged the thugs to stop shouting in case her two young children woke up

“Then they dragged her back down and forced her to hand over the key.”

Throughout the attack, Nancy’s priority was to keep the children safe.

“She was begging them to stop shouting – she was saying, ‘I’ll open the safe so long as you stop pushing me around and yelling’.

“They were out of control and hysterical – Nancy was calm.”

It was thought the burglars had found out where she lived by following her home from a local park.

Three men were arrested but were later told they would face no further action after questioning by police.

*I’m A Celebrity 2019 launches Sunday November 17 at 9pm on ITV





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