(Image: CLEVELAND POLICE)
Two men who kidnapped a man before beating him, making him strip naked and then forcing him to film a ransom video for his family have been jailed.
Mark Pearce claimed he was "racing pigeons" during the kidnapping in which the victim was abducted, bound, and held captive in a caravan at a field near Sandy Lane in Newcastle.
The 52-year-old, of Honeycomb Avenue in Stockton, was jailed for four years on Monday (August 10) after being convicted of conspiracy to kidnap after a two-week trial.
Donald Hammond, 43, of Papermill Place in London, was also found guilty and was sentenced to six years in prison at an earlier hearing.
The pair both denied involvement.
The court heard that the victim was stripped naked, beaten and then forced to film a video for his family to pay a ransom.
CCTV footage showed a black Mercedes, hired from London, following Pearce’s Land Rover onto the field where the caravan was stationed.
Hammond denied travelling from London to Stockton, despite mobile phone data obtained by police showing his mobile phone was connecting to masts in that area.
Pearce also denied being in the Land Rover, claiming he was busy racing pigeons at his allotment.
Detectives from Cleveland Police’s Stockton CID gathered CCTV and telephone data to build their case.
DC Jonathan Pain, of Stockton CID, said: "I want to recognise the courage that has been shown by the victim throughout this process following the unimaginable ordeal he was put through by these men.
"I hope this verdict can provide him some comfort going forward.
"During the trial, Pearce claimed he was merely racing his pigeons. Yet there was a considerable amount of material presented to the jury that disputed this, including CCTV and mobile phone data. Thankfully, they saw through the smokescreen of his pigeon defence and found him guilty by a unanimous verdict.
"Hammond travelled up from London in a Mercedes that was seen on CCTV throughout the day, with Pearce’s vehicle going to and from the location where the victim was held.
"The jury also did not believe his account on how his DNA came to be on items left at the scene.
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"This was a highly sophisticated plot with national and international elements."
He urged anyone with further information to contact Cleveland Police, quoting reference number SE24067290, or to call Crimestoppers anonymously.
He added: "Please be assured that any information received will be treated confidentially."