Two cousins have been sentenced to prison for a brutal kidnapping that resulted in life-changing injuries to a young man. Miles Blakeney and Luke Hazell, both aged 37, abducted a man in his 20s and subjected him to days of torture in a flat located in Edgbaston, Birmingham.
The terrifying abduction took place just before 8pm on 21 January 2023. A Land Rover screeched to a halt on Anglesey Street in Lozells. A group of men wearing balaclavas jumped out, chased the victim, forced him into the vehicle, removed his coat, and covered his head. The chilling incident was witnessed by shocked bystanders.
After the kidnapping, the perpetrators drove approximately two miles to a flat in Edgbaston. Shortly afterwards, a family member contacted the police. The victim managed to call another relative from a hidden number, tearfully stating: “They have kidnapped me, they have kidnapped me. They want money. They want three mill (£3m).”
In January, Hazell, who lives on Dovedale Road, and Blakeney, from Ashley Close, were found guilty of conspiracy to kidnap, false imprisonment, blackmail, and wounding with intent. On 27 April, at Birmingham Crown Court, Hazell was sentenced to 16 years in prison, while Blakeney received a 10-year sentence. The court’s decision marks justice served for the victim after a harrowing ordeal.
Originally published by UKNIP.
