Kidderminster kidnap: Six jailed after victim's bones broken with hammers

Six men have been jailed for kidnapping a man, stripping him, breaking his bones with hammers then stabbing him.

The 37-year-old victim, who has not been named, was kidnapped in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, in August last year.

Three men pleaded guilty to charges including kidnap, false imprisonment and causing grievous bodily harm.

Worcester Crown Court found three other men guilty of charges including false imprisonment and grievous bodily harm.

The victim of the kidnapping was eventually dumped naked on a street. He was lucky to escape alive, said police.

The motive for the attack was a debt "in the region of £40,000" owed by the victim after a business deal, police said.

Tariq Mahmood, 42, of Sandwell Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, was jailed for 17 years after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap, false imprisonment, causing grievous bodily harm and wounding.

Paul Murray, 43, of no fixed abode, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap and false imprisonment and grievous bodily harm. He was jailed for 15 years.

Robert Watters, 48, of Chester Road, Castle Bromwich, Birmingham, admitted conspiracy to kidnap and false imprisonment, and was sentenced to three years in prison.

Tehery Mahmood, 37, of Gilson Road, was found guilty of false imprisonment and grievous bodily harm and sentenced to 14 years.

Steven Taylor, 38, of Johnstone Street, Aston, Birmingham, was jailed for two and a half years after being found guilty of false imprisonment.

Another man was sentenced to 17 years in prison, but cannot be named for legal reasons.

West Mercia Police said the victim's "terrifying ordeal" began when he was kidnapped from outside his home.

He was assaulted and bundled into a vehicle by Tariq Mahmood and Murray and driven by Watters to a storage container in Coleshill, police said.

He was stripped naked and beaten with hammers, suffering two broken ankles, a broken arm and cheek bone, a spokesman said.

Police said the victim was moved from the container the following day to an unknown location where he was repeatedly stabbed, then taken to an address on Sycamore Road, Handsworth where he was left in the boot of a vehicle for hours.

He was eventually released on 5 August and dumped naked in a street in Birmingham.

Det Supt Paul Williamson said: "In this case [the victim] was lucky to escape alive, but has suffered life-changing psychological and physical injuries.