Four members of a kidnap gang, who believed they were "untouchable" have been locked up by a judge after they abducted two men off the streets of Bradford and demanded huge sums in ransoms.

The gang severely bound and beat up one businessman with tree branches after they threatened him with an imitation gun and drove him to secluded woods and demanded £100,000.

Tobias Melgram, 19, and Amjad Khan, 22, were told they were a serious risk to the public and would have to serve a minimum of five-and-a-half years behind bars before being considered for release by the Parole Board.

But Recorder Paul Sloan QC said at Bradford Crown Court said they could be kept in custody for longer if they were still a risk.

The pair, together with 21-year-old Imran Khan, kidnapped 27-year-old Mohammed Tanveer Mir last September after they dragged one of his friends out of a car.

The trio got into the vehicle and after Amjad Khan produced an imitation handgun he was driven away with a coat over his head to begin a terrifying ten-hour ordeal.

Prosecutor John Topham described how their victim was driven to woods in the Fellside Close area of West Bowling, Bradford, where he was taken into a clearing and his hands bound with tape and a belt.

Mr Mir was struck with tree branches and other implements as Amjad Khan demanded a ransom of £100,000 for his release.

Calls were made to friends and relatives of Mr Mir saying that he would be "dealt with'' if money was not paid and he was told that a four-foot grave had been dug.

Mr Mir said that Melgram pointed the gun at him and even took out the magazine showing him the bullets.

Mr Topham said the police had been alerted and hostage negotiators were brought in to assist with the discussions which lasted throughout the night.

During his ordeal Mr Mir was held captive in a house which the men had commandeered because the occupants were frightened of them.

Eventually it was agreed that £4,000 would be paid, but the police were waiting outside the home of one of Mr Mir's brothers and when Imran Khan arrived with Mr Mir to collect the cash he was arrested.

Mr Topham said Mr Mir suffered various cuts and bruises as a well as a fractured finger and also needed medication later for stress and anxiety.

Melgram and Amjad Khan were not arrested for that offence until after they had carried out another kidnapping in January this year.

On that occasion 21-year-old Rehan Ameen was lured in his BMW car to a meeting in Hustler Street, Undercliffe, Bradford, where he was confronted by the duo together with 21-year-old Ziaurauman Khan.

Mr Topham said the three men had their faces covered and after getting into the car they assaulted Mr Ameen using bats.

Again they said they wanted £20,000 or they would kill him and he was driven to a car park near Sedbergh Boxing Club, Odsal, where he was further attacked and told he would be locked in a cellar.

Mr Ameen was driven back to another car park in the Little Horton Lane area, but he managed to flee from the vehicle and seek refuge a nearby fish and chip shop.

Melgram, of Tamar Street, Little Horton, Bradford, pleaded guilty to two offences of kidnapping and one of possessing an imitation firearm with intent.

The court heard that when he was only 14 he had been involved in a street robbery and was locked up for 18 months in 2002.

Amjad Khan, of New Cross Street, West Bowling, Bradford, pleaded guilty to the same three offences.

Imran Khan, of Round Street, West Bowling, was jailed for six years after he admitted kidnapping Mr Mir, robbing him of £350 and possessing an imitation firearm with intent to rob.

He will serve half that jail term before being released.

Ziaurauman Khan, of Springmill Street, West Bowling, pleaded guilty to kidnapping Mr Ameen.

He will serve half of a four-year prison term for that offence.

Passing sentence Recorder Sloan said he was passing sentence on the basis that the gun used in the first kidnapping was an imitation but he said that would be little consolation as far as their victim was concerned.

'It is clear he believed it (the gun), and the bullets he was shown during this kidnapping were real,'' said Recorder Sloan.

'He was hit on the head and legs with a branch even after he went to the ground and he thought he was going to be killed.'' He noted that various threats were made to Mr Mir during his ordeal including threats to use pliers on his toes or to shoot his brother if the ransom handover was a set up.

At one stage it was even suggested he put on a bullet-proof vest to see if one of the bullets from the gun would go through it.

After the gang was jailed Detective Superintendent Andy Brennan of West Yorkshire Police's Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: "They are all very dangerous people who just thought they could get away with these things.

"This sad and pathetic group of individuals now face years behind bars. I expect that is a very sobering thought for them.

"They ran around Bradford under the apparent misapprehension that they were above the law and that no-one could touch them. They couldn't have been more wrong."

Det Supt Brennan also praised the officers who had been involved in bringing the gang to justice.

He said: "This investigation has been an excellent example of police work and I would like to pay particular tribute to Bradford North CID, most notably Detective Constable Giuseppe Rawling and Detective Constable Richard Oxley who were involved with investigating the first incident from the beginning.

"They have worked tirelessly over the last 12 months to ensure witnesses and evidence were available to the court. They have been entirely committed and focused to seeing justice served."