A harrowing kidnapping case has concluded at Shrewsbury Crown Court, where Haider Ali, 22, from Wellington, Shropshire, was found guilty of kidnap. Four other men had already admitted their roles in the attack, which was captured on distressing CCTV footage.
The Kidnapping
On December 29 last year, at approximately 2:18 PM, four masked individuals seized a 21-year-old man from a property in the Arleston area of Telford. The victim was forcibly taken from the address and placed into the boot of a black Audi A4. A woman can be heard screaming "Let him go!" as she is pushed to the ground before the gang speeds away.
CCTV footage shows the vehicle moving through Wellington with the boot ajar, the victim's legs protruding and feet dangling from the car. The victim was transported across Telford, assaulted, tortured, and eventually managed to flee his captors.
The Trial
During the two-week trial, the court heard that the kidnappers drove to a storage facility in Eyton, Shropshire, where the victim was taken inside and savagely attacked. Ali arrived 20 minutes later in a Volkswagen Passat, departing after ten minutes, followed by the Audi carrying two of the kidnappers. The two vehicles then travelled to Lilleshall Golf Club, where the Audi was abandoned and its occupants transferred to the Volkswagen. Two of the attackers were taken to an address in Arleston, while Ali returned to the storage unit to pick up the remaining two men. They left at approximately 3:44 PM, leaving the victim bound to a chair inside the unit.
The abandoned Audi was reported to police, and CCTV footage of the Volkswagen led officers to Ali. While Ali was in custody, a video showing the victim being tortured was transmitted to his mobile phone at 7:11 PM. Officers identified the other four suspects as Jawad Hussain, 20, Ehteshan Hussain, 22, Faheem Chohan, 23, and Shayyan Hussain, 24.
The Victim's Escape
Following Ali's arrest, the four men returned to the unit, placed the victim in a vehicle, and headed towards north Shropshire. At 9:58 PM, police received a call from a takeaway in Whitchurch, reporting that a man had escaped a kidnapping and was severely injured. Officers attended and confirmed the man as the victim.
The victim disclosed that he escaped while two of the suspects were outside the vehicle. He managed to lock the doors, spotted the keys in the ignition, and drove himself to safety. He was taken to hospital for treatment of his injuries and was able to verify the identities of the other four men involved.
Sentencing and Police Comment
All five men are scheduled to be sentenced at a later date at Shrewsbury Crown Court. Detective Chief Inspector Lee Holeshouse, from the force's Major Investigations Unit, said: "This was a shocking and deeply disturbing attack in which a young man was kidnapped in broad daylight, subjected to a sustained and brutal assault, and held against his will. The actions of all five men involved show a complete disregard for human life and the law, and the level of violence and intimidation used is utterly unacceptable. I welcome yesterday's verdict against Haider Ali, which means five men involved in this appalling crime have now been held to account for their actions. I would like to commend the bravery of the victim in escaping such terrifying circumstances, and the determination of officers whose swift and thorough investigation within those first 24 hours, and afterwards, brought those responsible to justice. Our communities should be reassured that this kind of criminality will not be tolerated, and we will continue to pursue those who pose a danger to others."
