A DIAMOND-DEALER has gone public with a £5,000 reward to help catch robbers who tortured him at his home in Thornwood.

Fred Howard was repeatedly cut with a carving knife and even threatened with a chainsaw during the brutal attack by three masked raiders.

The 62-year-old was left with deep gash on his leg after one of the men attempted to make good on a threat to slice off his genitals.

He was also beaten with the butt end of a rifle and scalded with boiling water during the terrifying hour-long ordeal at his secluded home on the outskirts of Epping.

"The were two or three moments when I thought 'this is it - I'm going to die here tonight'", an emotional Mr Howard told the Guardian this week.

Mr Howard, a married father-of-three, was home alone and watching television when the gang appeared. His hands were cable-tied and he was frog-marched to his safe.

“I kept saying 'you don't have to do this, I will help you and give you what you want',” he said. “But they just kept hitting me. It was relentless."

The attackers helped themselves to £200,000 worth of precious stones and jewellery and £8,000 cash, but the assault continued as they pressed for the location of more valuables.

After repeatedly slashing at him with a ten inch knife, one of the men emerged from the kitchen with a kettle and poured the boiling contents over Mr Howard's exposed body.

He said: "It was excruciating. But by then I felt so sick and dizzy I had almost become numb to what was happening. And then they picked up a chainsaw which I had bought recently. It was sat on a box. And I just thought 'Oh no - this is it for me.'

"I cannot describe the relief I felt when I realised he could not get it to start."

The men only disappeared after Mr Howard managed to hit a panic button.

Since the attack Mr Howard has only returned to the house a handful of times to pick up clothes. He now lives a ‘nomadic’ existence, staying in temporary accommodation, and said he has reluctantly decided to sell his home of 24 years.

He added: "I can't go back. I know these people operate in gangs and I think they will come back again."

He continues to undergo physiotherapy and counselling, and is prone to panic attacks.

DC Ian Forsith, of Epping CID, appealed to the community to come forward with information after two men arrested in connection with the case were released without charge.

He said: "I see crime everyday, but I this is one of the most shocking incidents I have ever come across. The victim tried his best to meet their demands but they still saw fit to torture him. They need to be held to account."

Anyone with information should call police on 0300 333 4444, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.