A third man has been jailed for 11-and-a-half years for his part in the kidnapping of a 25-year-old man over a drug debt in the Foxhill area of Bath in June last year.
Daley Thomas, 25 of Ballance Street in Bath, admitted charges of kidnap, blackmail, supplying a class A drug (cocaine) and production of cannabis.
At Bristol Crown Court on 28th March, he was sentenced to seven years for kidnap and blackmail and four-and-a-half years for the additional drugs offences.
It follows the jailing for seven years and three months of Daryl Cadogan, 30, formerly of Snow Hill in Bath, and for seven years of Daryl Crane, 30, of Newbridge in Bath, earlier this month.
The three men kidnapped a 25-year-old man from a property in Dunster House in the Foxhill area of Bath on 13th June 2017 over an unpaid drugs debt, forcing him into the boot of a car and driving him around the city.
Investigating officer DC Neil Wood said: “The victim had been buying small amounts of cocaine from Thomas throughout 2017, but had been given a quantity of drugs “on tick” and was told to sell it.
“The drugs were stolen from the victim and he was unable to pay the money back.
“He started receiving threatening phone calls and Thomas paid several visits to the victim’s mother’s house. His aggressive and threatening manner caused her to fear for her son’s safety and he went into hiding at a friend’s home in Dunster House.
“Thomas, along with Cadogan and Crane, drove to Dunster House on 13 June 2017 and gained access by posing as postmen on the intercom.
“They forced their way into the flat and dragged the victim from his hiding place in a kitchen cupboard. They assaulted him and forced him into the boot of a Skoda Octavia hire car.
“They drove through the streets of Bath and told the victim he now owed £3,000. At one point they stole £300 from his wallet, along with his bank card – which Thomas used to try and withdraw cash from an ATM in Widcombe.
“As they were unable to get the money they were demanding, Cadogan called the victim’s father and told him if they were unable to pay them £3,000, his son would “disappear”.
“In desperation, he transferred the funds to a friend who handed the cash over to the victim to pay his debt.
“A police investigation was launched and as a result of intensive enquiries, Thomas and Cadogan were arrested on 21 July 2017. Crane was arrested a few months later after he was linked to the offence through telephone analysis.
“When Thomas was arrested, he was found in possession of a key to a neighbouring flat in Ballance Street.
“A vulnerable man who’d been living there was forced to leave after being threatened and Thomas had set-up a cannabis factory inside.
“A kilo of cannabis was seized with a street value of around £6,000, along with a further £1,500 in cash.”
DC Wood added: “The level of violence and threatening behaviour shown by all three men is shocking and their actions have left the victim traumatised.
“The wealth of evidence we gathered during this complex investigation led to Thomas and Cadogan admitting the offences in court. Crane was found guilty following a trial.
“I welcome the custodial sentences given today and believe Bath is a safer place with these men off the streets.”
