Two Cousins Face Heavy Jail Time for Brutal Kidnap and Torture in Birmingham
Masked Gang Snatches Man in Lozells Street Chase
Miles Blakeney and Luke Hazell, both 37, unleashed a nightmare on a man in his 20s on January 21, 2023. Just before 8pm, a masked gang jumped from a Land Rover on Anglesey Street, Lozells, chasing and forcing the victim into their vehicle. His coat was ripped off and a hood thrown over his head in a chilling abduction caught on the streets.
Tortured for Days in Sinister Edgbaston Flat
The victim was driven two miles to a flat in Edgbaston, where a horrifying ordeal unfolded. A desperate call to police came just after 8.10pm from a relative. The victim then whispered to a family member, “They have kidnapped me, they want money. Three mill (£3m).”
Over the following nights, the victim was tied up and scalded with boiling water. Despite a daring escape attempt, where he struck a guard with a vodka bottle, the nightmare continued.
Major Crime Unit Breaks the Case
The battered man was dumped naked in the street just before 10pm on January 26. A passerby called the police, sparking a Major Crime Unit investigation. Detectives pieced together phone records, vehicle tracking, and DNA evidence to pinpoint Hazell as the mastermind and Blakeney as the man running the torture flat.
Chilling chat logs showed their cold-blooded planning. Blakeney messaged, “Did you go there?” and Hazell replied, “They waited for the geezer, will try again tomorrow.”
Guilty Verdicts and March Sentencing
At Birmingham Crown Court, both cousins were found guilty of conspiracy to kidnap, false imprisonment, blackmail, and wounding with intent. They face long sentences, with sentencing scheduled for March 27.
