Hijackers kidnap lorry driver
A gang of hijackers kidnapped a terrified lorry driver in Staffordshire before dragging him into a field and repeatedly kicking him.
Detectives have today launched a manhunt to try to find the gang who attacked the trucker.
The group struck at around 4am yesterday when the lorry driver left the overnight truck stop on the A460 Wolverhampton Road, near Featherstone.
He was travelling towards Cannock when a red car pulled out sharply in front of him, causing him to stop.
While the lorry was stationary, two gang members smashed the passenger window and got into the cab.
They told the 45-year-old driver to get into the back of cab and pulled a curtain across, separating them.
After about 20 minutes, the lorry stopped and the man was put into the back seat of a dark coloured car.
He was told to put his head between his legs and after another 20 minutes drive, he was dragged from the car into a field near Pinfold Lane, in Penkridge, and kicked in the ribs and back before being left by his attackers at about 5.10am.
He was taken to Staffordshire General Hospital and treated for bruising to the ribs, back and neck.
Police today said they are hunting four men who were all wearing deer stalker type hats with the ear warmers pulled down and all spoke with Birmingham accents.
The lorry was later found by officers at Beaconside in Stafford, but the trailer – carrying eight pallets of Gillette Mac Three razors and 17 pallets of plastic school chairs – has not yet been recovered.
Detective Clare Davenport from Chase Division CID said the hijacking was exceptionally violent.
She said: "The lorry driver, from Chorley in Lancashire, was not seriously injured but was left badly bruised and shaken up."
