Three men jailed for kidnap

Three men who beat and threatened a man after forcing him into a car and kidnapping him have been jailed for a combined total of twelve and a half years.

All three were sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Friday, 1 December, having earlier been found guilty of kidnap and actual bodily harm following a trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court in September 2017.

On Monday, 26 June 2016, at around 22:30hrs, the victim, a 19-year-old man, was at home in east London when he received a text from a female friend inviting him to meet up at a nearby newsagent.

He attended the location to meet the friend on Commercial Road, near the junction with White Horse Road, Stepney E1.

Shortly after his arrival, a Silver Audi A4 approached the scene and a group of males began shouting abuse from the window.

Two males, who were unknown to the victim, then got out of the vehicle and approached him. One of the men put the victim in a headlock and another grabbed his body and they dragged the victim to the car, bundling him inside before getting in themselves. The vehicle then left the scene. Members of public provided the police with the registration number of the Silver Audi A4 as it sped off.

The victim was made to lay down on the back seat so as to hide the fact he was there from any witnesses. It was then that he noticed Miah sitting in the car.

Miah and Alam attempted to rob him of his mobile phone and Shaon beat him with a belt buckle as the car was driven around the Stepney and Limehouse areas.

During this time the victim feared for his life as he was threatened and told that he would be shot and would not return home.

The vehicle was eventually driven through the Rotherhithe tunnel. As it left the tunnel the vehicle was stopped by police as a result of ANPR activation and all the occupants arrested.

The victim was originally arrested along with Miah, Alam and Shaon before it was established that he was the victim.

It is believed the three kidnapped the victim in retaliation following an earlier confrontation between him and Miah.

Miah, Alam and Shaon were all charged in February 2017.

Detective Constable Tomasz Patzer, of Tower Hamlets CID, who led the investigation, said: “We are very pleased to have secured this sentencing for what was a frightening ordeal that continues to traumatize the victim. We hope this sentencing allows him to move on with his life, and that imprisonment will allow Miah, Alam and Shaon to reflect upon the seriousness of what they have done.”

Speaking anonymously, the victim said: “I am scared in the night that my kidnappers are going to knock at my door and hurt my and my family. As it happened in my home area I am scared to go out on my own because I fear it happening again.”

Source: Met Police