New Year's Eve kidnap gang locked up for combined 37 years
Three people who kidnapped a man outside a pub on New Year’s Eve and threatened him at knifepoint have been jailed.
The victim, a man in his 20s, was driven around for around two hours and held in headlocks as his captors demanded money from him.
Cameron Halls, Marc Spittle and Alisha Dale were all jailed for their involvement for a combined total of 37 years at Stafford Crown Court this week.
The court was told that the victim, who was known to Spittle, was chosen as he had recently come into some money and Spittle was anxious to pay off some debts.
He was collected from a pub in Cannock town centre on New Year’s Eve in 2018 and, once he'd been force inside the car, was held by Halls and Spittle, while Dale drove.
The victim no longer had his money but was put in headlocks and threatened at knifepoint until it was decided to take him to a relative’s house in an attempt to get the cash.
Stafford Crown Court heard he was threatened and assaulted at the address, again at knifepoint, before the three drove away with the victim.
After failing to find money at a further address, the victim was dropped off in Belt Road, near Cannock, where he entered a working men’s club and told a woman: “I have been kidnapped. They had a knife and they demanded lots of money”.
His ordeal lasted around two hours.
Halls, who the judge decided played the leading role, was found guilty of kidnap, conspiracy to rob and robbery. The 33-year-old of Sidney Avenue, Stafford, was sentenced to 17 years.
Spittle, 34, of Greensome Lane, in Stafford, pleaded guilty to kidnap and two counts of conspiracy to rob at an earlier hearing. He received a total sentence of 14 years.
Dale, 29, of Exeter Street, Stafford, was jailed for five years and six months after being found guilty for kidnap and conspiracy to rob.
Detective Sergeant Ian Press, of Staffordshire Police, said: “This was a terrifying experience for the victim that lasted for several hours.
“He was held at knifepoint, in fear for his own life and those of family members.
“We are glad the three involved are now serving substantial sentences which reflect the seriousness of this disturbing crime.”