This was the dramatic moment a kidnap victim made a desperate bid for freedom, jumping from a first-floor window into a tree before fleeing down the street and stumbling across a police patrol car.
The victim, who had been targeted after the breakdown of a previous relationship, was lured to an address in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, on July 4 last year, where he was detained by a gang against his will.
Over several hours, he endured brutal abuse and degrading treatment at the hands of Brad’Lee Ranyard, Nathan Gladwell, Jackson Nicholson, Craig Ranyard and Danielle Thompson.
His captors repeatedly assaulted, threatened and taunted him, laughing as they recorded the ordeal on their mobile phones.
The following day, he was forced into the back of an Isuzu pickup truck by Ranyard and Nicholson. During the journey, he was made to sit between the pair and was subjected to further threats.
He was driven along back roads before being taken to a property on Portland Street in Lincoln, where he was once again held against his will.
CCTV footage captured the vehicle pulling up outside the Portland Street address at 7.30am, before Ranyard and Nicholson escorted the victim inside.
This is the dramatic moment a kidnap victim escaped by jumping from a first-floor window into a tree before finding a police car as he fled
CCTV footage showed Brad’Lee Ranyard and Jackson Nicholson leaving the property soon afterwards where the victim had been taken in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, last July
Police tracked the vehicle with armed officers stopping it and holding the pair at gunpoint
However, at 11.23am, the desperate victim saw an opportunity to escape.
CCTV footage shows him clambering from a window before leaping into a nearby tree and making his way down to the pavement. He can then be seen frantically running into the street.
Just moments later, a marked Lincolnshire Police vehicle turned into Portland Street.
The victim ran directly towards the officers, stepping in front of their car to bring it to a stop before jumping into the back seat and pleading for help.
PC Kingston, who was driving the vehicle, recognised the man was in distress and took him to a place of safety before getting an initial account of what had happened to him.
CCTV captured the movements of the men involved after the victim’s escape.
At 11.27am, Ranyard and Nicholson were seen leaving the Portland Street address. They later returned before leaving again carrying a duffle bag and making their way to an Isuzu pickup parked nearby.
Police tracked the vehicle, with armed officers stopping it on Washingborough Road, at 12.07pm, where the pair were arrested at gunpoint.
Detectives uncovered three other men involved in the incident.
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Nathan Gladwell, Craig Ranyard and Danielle Thompson were located and arrested at a property in Market Rasen around 9.40pm that night.
The four men and one woman were later charged.
On August 28, they appeared at Lincoln Crown Court for sentencing.
Brad’Lee Ranyard, 20, from Lincoln, was jailed for nine years after being convicted of kidnap and pleading guilty to false imprisonment.
Jackson Nicholson, 25, from Gainsborough, was also jailed for nine years after being convicted of kidnap and pleading guilty to false imprisonment.
Craig Ranyard, 42, from Horncastle, was sentenced to five years and three months’ imprisonment after being convicted of false imprisonment.
Danielle Thompson, 38, of Market Rasen, was sentenced to four years and nine months’ imprisonment after being convicted of false imprisonment.
Nathan Gladwell, 36, of Market Rasen, was sentenced to three years and seven months’ imprisonment after being convicted of false imprisonment.
All five were also made subject to an indefinite restraining order preventing contact with the victim and members of his family.
The dramatic arrest of two of the kidnappers was caught on police bodycam footage
Three other men involved in the brutal kidnapping were arrested later that evening
The four men and woman were arrested and convicted of kidnapping and false imprisonment
DC Liam Henderson, who led the investigation, said: ‘This was a sustained and deeply distressing ordeal in which a man was subjected to violence, threats and humiliation at the hands of people who appeared to find amusement in his suffering.
‘The victim showed remarkable courage in seizing the opportunity to escape. The CCTV footage captures a desperate moment in which he quite literally risked everything to get away from those holding him captive.
‘By sheer chance, as he fled from the property, a marked police vehicle entered the street. That moment changed the course of events and allowed officers to get him to safety when he needed help most.
‘We often hear concerns that victims may feel alone or that help will not arrive when it is needed.
‘This case is a powerful reminder that when someone reaches out for help, we will do everything we can to protect them and bring those responsible to justice.
‘The impact on the victim has been significant, and our thoughts remain with him as he continues to recover from this traumatic experience.
‘I would also like to commend the officers involved, whose actions that day ensured a vulnerable man was brought to safety and that those responsible were swiftly arrested and brought before the courts.’
