Two cousins have been locked up for their part in a savage kidnapping that left a man with life-changing injuries. Miles Blakeney and Luke Hazell, both 37, were involved in kidnapping a man in his 20s, torturing him for days at a flat in Edgbaston.
Terrifying Abduction Caught on the Streets of Lozells
The chilling ordeal began just before 8pm on 21 January 2023. A Land Rover screeched onto Anglesey Street, Lozells, when a gang of balaclava-clad men leapt out and chased down the victim. They bundled him into the car, ripped off his coat, and covered his head.
Distress Call Reveals Kidnap for Ransom
The vehicle then sped about two miles away to a flat in Edgbaston. Shortly after 8.10pm, a relative alerted police. The victim later called another family member from a hidden number, tearfully saying:
“They have kidnapped me, they have kidnapped me. They want money. They want three mill (£3m).”
Harsh Sentences Deliver Justice
In January, Hazell from Dovedale Road and Blakeney from Ashley Close, both Birmingham locals, were found guilty of conspiracy to kidnap, false imprisonment, blackmail, and wounding with intent.
At Birmingham Crown Court on Friday 27 April, Hazell was slammed with a 16-year jail term, while Blakeney was handed 10 years behind bars.
