MAGICIAN Paul Daniels has leapt to the defence of his youngest son, who has been accused of pretending he was the victim of a violent burglary.

Paul Daniels insists his son Gary was attacked in his North-East home and only dropped the matter because he is fearful of reprisals.

Police found Gary Daniels, 31, lying face down on his living room floor, with his hands bound behind his back in the early hours of last Tuesday.

He claimed he had been knocked unconscious by robbers, who then stole CDs, a hi-fi and a microphone from his home in Hemlington, Teesside, after ransacking drawers and slashing furniture.

But police began to doubt his story when medics found no evidence of injury and a police dog team could find no clues of entry or exit by the burglars.

Confronted by the inconsistencies, Gary Daniels admitted to officers he had done the damage himself and concocted the story to gain attention.

Gary is the youngest of three sons from the television magician's first marriage, to Jackie, who he met when they both worked for the local council.

Paul Daniels said: "I have spoken to him and I do believe he was attacked. He is very frightened, very badly shook up and doesn't want to talk to anyone about what has happened. He just wants to get back on with his own life."

Cleveland Police confirmed that Gary Daniels admitted making up the story - though they decided not to prosecute him for wasting police time.

"We take each case on its merits and Mr Daniels quickly told the truth to officers when confronted with inconsistencies. To progress this further would have been a disincentive to others to tell the truth."

Gary Daniels, who is on sick leave from his jobs as procurement manager for Middlesbrough General Hospital and as an instructor with a health club, declined to comment.