Five men who kidnapped, tortured and blackmailed a man in Manchester have been jailed for a total of 50 years 11 months.

On Thursday 11 April 2019, a man in his 30s, was approached by Daniel Lowe, John Bishop and Ben Ukaegbu, who were misleadingly dressed as police officers, who falsely arrested him, placing him into the back of a car.

Greater Manchester Police have said that the men placed a tracking device on the victim’s car allowing them to track his location remotely in preparation for the kidnap.

The kidnappers drove the victim to a back street in Gorton where they dragged him out from the car, put a hood over his head and put him in a van which drove to a building in the area.

Bishop, Ukaegbu, Barnes, Lowe and Etuhu forcibly held the victim at the building for around 13 hours and threatened him with an imitation firearm, before torturing him.

The group contacted various members of the victim’s family and demanded a ransom which they asked to be delivered to an address in Birmingham.

The family informed the police who were able to track down the location and sent in an armed police team to break into the building.

All five men were sentenced at Manchester Crown Court today.

Nicky Barnes from Northampton was jailed for 12 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to blackmail.

Daniel Lowe from Northampton was jailed for 10 years 6 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to blackmail.

Michael Etuhu from Manchester was jailed for 10 years 2 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to blackmail.

Ben Ukaegbu from Northampton was jailed for 11 years 3 months years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to blackmail.

John Bishop from Northampton was jailed for 7 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to blackmail.

The scene and weapons recovered by police. Credit: Greater Manchester Police

Detective Inspector Gareth Davies, of GMP’s Major Incident Team, said: "This was a terrifying attack on a man who was held against his will and senselessly tortured.

"This crime was carefully thought out and planned by this despicable group of offenders and their behaviour was ruthless and inhumane.

He added: "This sentence is very much deserved and I hope it will act as a warning that this type of criminal behaviour will absolutely not be tolerated on our streets."