A SOUTHAMPTON businessman has spoken of his "hatred" for two masked robbers who threatened to inject his wife with the deadly Aids virus.

Lesley Foreman, who suffers from asthma, was bound and gagged during a terrifying ordeal in which she feared for her life.

Mrs Foreman, 58, fought back when the robbers burst into her New Forest cottage shortly after her husband Chris had left for work.

But she agreed to offer no resistance after one of the men threatened her with the Aids virus.

The intruders ransacked her home and made off with a large amount of cash and jewellery that had belonged to her late parents.

Yesterday Mrs Foreman gave a press conference at Lyndhurst police station and relived the break-in, which she says has ruined her life.

She was close to tears and sounded short of breath as she described the traumatic incident.

Mr Foreman, 53, who runs a car repair business in Southampton, comforted his wife as she recounted her ordeal.

Asked what he thought of the robbers he replied: "What anyone would think of people who'd threatened his wife with Aids - anger, hatred and disgust."

As reported in yesterday's Daily Echo, Mr Foreman is offering a £10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the raiders.

The robbery occurred at the couple's picturesque cottage at Emery Down, near Lyndhurst, last Friday.

Mrs Foreman was still in bed when two men with balaclavas over their faces burst into her bedroom and demanded jewellery.

"They said if I didn't get it they'd inject me with Aids," she said.

"I don't know whether they had a syringe or not. I didn't see one, but was being pushed and turned over.

"I'm asthmatic and begged them not to gag me because I could have choked to death, but they stuffed toilet paper into my mouth."

The robbers searched the cottage and made off with a large haul that included several Krugerands - one-ounce gold coins minted in South Africa.

Mrs Foreman took half an hour to struggle downstairs and raise the alarm.

The raid is being investigated by 11 officers headed by Detective Inspector Martin Youngs, who condemned the level of violence used by the intruders.

He appealed for information about a red car and a white Transit-type van that were seen in the area.