Five men jailed after barber tricked into thinking he was booked for a job - but ended up kidnapped at gunpoint
The victim, in his 20s, was bundled into a van and driven to a home in Levenshulme where he was pistol-whipped and threatened
Last updated 21st Feb 2019
Five men have been jailed after a man was kidnapped and attacked at a house in Levenshulme.
The following men were jailed today (Thursday 14 February) at Manchester Crown Court, Crown Square:
· Adrian Cameron (08/071983) of Stockport Road, Longsight
· Ricardo Bell (02/02/1988) of Didsbury Road, Heaton Mersey
· Michael Wright (30.10.1972) of Canon Hussey Court, Salford
· Azar Mohammed (23/12/1984) of Ullswater Road, Wythenshawe
· Usman Rathore (28/11/1985) of Wellington Crescent, Old Trafford
On the evening of Thursday 2 November 2017, the victim - a man in his 20s - was picked up in Salford by Usman Rathore and Azar Mohammed. Working as a mobile barber, the man had earlier arranged to meet them to cut their hair. Unbeknown to the him, Rathore and Mohammed were not meeting him for a haircut but had instead planned to kidnap him and take him to their friend Adrian Cameron.
Rathore and Mohammed bundled him into the car, shortly after which, a black Jaguar, being driven by Ricardo Bell pulled up alongside them. Adrian Cameron got out of Bell’s car and approached Rathore’s car, before forcibly removing the victim and putting him into the rear of the Jaguar, where Michael Wright was sat.
The man was threatened at gun point by Cameron and driven to an address in Levenshulme. He was assaulted in an alleyway before being dragged into the house on Stockport Road.
Once inside, he was punched several times and again threatened with a gun.
Although the motivation for the kidnap is not entirely clear, it is believed to have been linked to a dispute over money. Throughout his ordeal, the victim repeatedly protested his innocence to the group, but nevertheless they continued with their prolonged attack.
Around two hours later, the man was driven to a family member’s address and released, but not before Cameron threatened his family.
Today the group were jailed for a combined total of just over 35 years in prison.
Detective Inspector Gareth Davies, of GMP’s City of Manchester District, said: “This was a terrifying ordeal for the victim, who feared for his life when he was attacked and held against his will by these violent men.
“I hope today’s result brings him, and the wider public generally, some comfort in knowing these men are now behind bars facing up to their abhorrent actions.
“Our officers worked tirelessly on this investigation over many months to piece together the full circumstances of what happened, and today’s sentence shows our commitment to protecting people in need and prosecuting those responsible. ”