Hornsea man jailed after violent blackmail attack
Bradley Kitcher assaulted and threatened to kill his victim and family during the ordeal
A man who assaulted another man in his own home before blackmailing and threatening to kill him and his family has been jailed for nearly five years.
Bradley Kitcher, 24, of Cliffe Road in Hornsea, was sentenced to four years and 10 months behind bars at Hull Crown Court on 15th October.
He had pleaded guilty to blackmail two days earlier.
The court heard the attack happened on the morning of 20th March 2025.
Kitcher entered the victim’s home while he was asleep, woke him up by kneeling on him and repeatedly punched him.
He then damaged items inside the house and made a series of violent threats, including that he would kill the victim and his family.
Kitcher said he would tie them up if the victim didn’t follow his instructions.
Victim fled to shop to call police
Kitcher forced the victim to go with him to his own address, claiming people inside were waiting to stab him.
When the victim refused to go in, a further altercation took place before he managed to escape to a nearby shop and discreetly call the police.
While the victim was inside, Kitcher remained outside and smashed up the man’s phone before fleeing when he learned officers were on their way.
A short time later, police arrested him at a property on Cliffe Road in Hornsea.
Police: “A targeted and aggressive attack”
Detective Constable Dani Crawforth from Humberside Police’s Major Crime Team said: “This was a targeted and aggressive attack by a violent man who clearly showed no remorse for his actions.
“We will not tolerate violent incidents such as this one. Our teams work tirelessly to remove dangerous offenders like Kitcher from our streets and protect our communities.
“I’d like to commend the bravery of the victim, his family and members of the public for reporting this incident after facing a shocking ordeal on that day.
“I am pleased to see Kitcher has been held accountable for his actions and whilst it will not take away the trauma and fear the victim and his family now lives with daily, I hope they are reassured to know he is behind bars.”
Anyone with information or concerns about crime in their area is encouraged to report it by calling 101. In an emergency or if a crime is ongoing, always dial 999.
You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.