Three people have been jailed for kidnapping a man in Winsford, Cheshire, and subjecting him to a 19-hour ordeal in which he was beaten with a metal bar, had his head submerged in a bathtub, and had ammonia poured into his mouth.
Millie McGreavy, Joshua Hastie, and Reece Jackson forced the victim into a vehicle at his home in the early hours of January 27, pulling his hood over his head before taking him to a flat.
Once there, they tied him to a chair and "systematically attacked" him, according to Cheshire Constabulary.
Escape and Police Contact
After 19 hours, the man escaped the property and, at 10pm, police were contacted by a woman in nearby Hemswell Close who said he had attended her property and told her he had been kidnapped and was too scared to leave.
Earlier that day, the man's mother had reported him missing after receiving calls and messages from an unknown person threatening to harm him. The offenders demanded she meet them at Knight's Grange, a nearby beauty spot, and hand over £2,000 or his head would be "chopped up".
Police launched an investigation and carried out a number of searches. Later that evening, officers confirmed the missing man was the same individual who had presented at the woman's home.
Arrests and Sentencing
A manhunt was launched to find the offenders. Hastie, 33, of Weaver Grove in Winsford, was located after a police officer spotted him attempting to flee the scene. Jackson, 35, of Austin Close, Winsford, and McGreavy, 28, of Launceston Close, Winsford, were found in Grimsby on Monday, February 2. All three remained silent during questioning but were later charged.
Following a hearing at Chester Crown Court, Jackson was jailed for seven years and six months, McGreavy was sentenced to 70 months, and Hastie was jailed for five years. All three had previously pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault.
Police Comment
Detective Sergeant Neil Mooney, of Cheshire Constabulary, said: "Firstly, I would like to recognise the dedication and determination of the officers in this case. Thanks to the comprehensive evidential package they provided, including video interview evidence, witness statements, identification evidence, and digital materials, the defendants had no option but to admit their guilt."
He added: "I would also like to recognise the bravery of the victim. To be forcibly held against your will, tied to a chair and repeatedly attacked must have been terrifying and something that nobody should ever have to experience. While he will never be able to forget what happened to him that day, I hope the sentences handed to McGreavy, Hastie and Jackson will provide him with some closure."
