A gang who held a man captive in a flat have been sentenced to more than five years in prison.
The victim, 28, had his hands bound and he was forced on to a sofa during the frightening ordeal at the property.
He was also attacked at the address in Congleton, Cheshire, and threatened by the group of two men and one woman, as reported by Stoke-on-Trent Live.
Chester Crown Court heard how the victim had been lured there by Scott Stokes who had sent a message saying ‘You don’t need to break my legs I’m cutting my throat’ at 12.30am on September 15.
Concerned that he may have harmed himself, the victim decided to visit Stokes' flat.
But when he entered the property at around 7.15am that day, he found Stokes lying on the bed uninjured.
The pair had a conversation and all appeared to be OK. However, just moments later Alex Jones and Sarah Nixon entered the flat and the trio launched their attack.
They also told him to admit that he had stolen Nixon’s car and was dealing drugs.
Fearing that he would be seriously harmed, the victim told the gang that he had some money that he could give them, but he needed a taxi to collect it.
The group agreed to order a cab and a short time later, they led him out of the flat and down to the ground floor to exit the building.
But as they did so, the victim managed to escape and sought help from a member of the public outside who called the police.
Officers swiftly attended the scene and arrested Nixon.
Jones and Stokes both fled the area on foot but were also later detained.
Stoke-on-Trent Live was sent video footage of the moment Stokes was arrested by undercover police outside Wetherspoons.
The trio were all charged with and pleaded guilty to false imprisonment.
Now they have been handed the following sentence:
• Jones, aged 31, of Banky Fields, Congleton – 22 months in prison
• Nixon, aged 40 of Bradwell Grove, Congleton – 22 months in prison
• Stokes, aged 26 of West Street, Congleton - 18 months in prison
All three were also order to pay a £156 victim surcharge.
Following the case, Detective Constable Jamie Roberts, of Cheshire Police, said: “This was an absolutely terrifying ordeal and I welcome the sentences handed to the defendants.
“The victim believed that Stokes was his friend went to the flat to make sure he was OK.
“Little did he know that he had been set up and was about to be ambushed and assaulted by three people who he trusted.
“Thankfully he was able to escape before he came to serious harm, although the outcome could have been far worse.”
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