Kidnapper from Bradford jailed after teen was bundled into Audi S3

The 18-year-old had a bag forced over his head during the lengthy ordeal in the early hours of February 5 last year when he was ‘sandwiched’ into the back of the car by a group of men and driven to locations in Bradford and Halifax.

Emmanual Sherriff, 26, of Etna Street, Great Horton, Bradford, was jailed for five years and one month after pleading guilty to kidnap, robbery and four counts of fraud in relation to the incident that began in Bradford city centre.

He went to Scotland afterwards and was traced and brought back to West Yorkshire by the police in February this year.

Prosecutor Camille Morland said the victim began chatting to a young woman on Snapchat in late January last year.

On February 4, they met up in Bradford city centre and went to a pub and a nightclub. They were in Sackville Street at 2am when they encountered Sherriff who was known to them.

He was curious about their relationship and being nosey, Miss Morland said.

Sherriff became angry and punched the teenager three or four times in the face.

He then took his phone and scrolled through it. The victim snatched it back and was chased by Sherriff and went to the ground.

The victim being chased in Bradford in the early hours of the morning (Image: West Yorkshire Police)

Two other males arrived in a blue Audi S3 and the teenager was punched and knocked over and then put or pushed into the back of the car. He was lying on his back and a black bag was put over his head. He was driven to a warehouse some minutes away where three more men became involved.

He was ‘sandwiched’ in the Audi and driven through roller doors to another location. He was still hooded and repeated demands for money were made by one of the kidnappers. He demanded £5,000 or the teenager would be ‘chopped up with a chainsaw.’ He was terrified, Miss Morland said.

He was robbed of his wallet, keys, driving licence and bank card.

In all, £6,100 was taken from his accounts after he was moved into the back of a Nissan Micra and driven around until 9am.

He was taken to Mixenden and then to Queensbury where he was threatened again and told to tell the bank the money was for a new car.

The teenager was dropped off in Park Lane in Queensbury and told to count to a minute. He then took off the bag, went home and the police were alerted.

He had abrasions and bruising to his face, grazed arms, a cut to his thumb and grazed knees.

The court heard that three males had each been jailed for 51 months for their involvement and two others had not been identified. The victim personal statement spoke of the profound effect on the 18-year-old.

He was now afraid to leave his home and he felt so insecure that alarms were provided for himself and his family members. His physical injuries took up to three weeks to heal.

Defence barrister, Rodney Ferm, said ‘a small guy’ was responsible for demanding the money and making the chainsaw threat. He took the lead in the intimidation and Sherriff could not have foreseen how events would develop after the kidnap.

He came from a loving and decent family who were very supportive. He had been in regular work in the security business but that was now forever closed to him.

Sherriff was in a relationship with a woman from Scotland and he was the father of a son. He saw his future in that country with his partner and child.

The offending was ‘a one-off occasion,’ Mr Ferm said.

Judge Jonathan Gibson said it was a serious case and Sherriff had played a significant role in it.

He believed the victim was in a relationship with a girlfriend of his. He took his phone and examined it and then arranged for his associates to arrive in the Audi. The teenager was bundled into the car and hooded. He was terrified and threatened by another male with a chainsaw, although none was produced.

“You had the leading role at the start of the incident because you arranged the kidnap but once the victim was in the car, others were equally prominent in the course of the detention and threats,” Judge Gibson said.

He had read letters from Sherriff’s family and colleagues that showed a positive side to him and he had family responsibilities.