Two cousins who kidnapped a man and tortured him for days in a sinister Edgbaston flat now face lengthy prison sentences.
Violent Abduction Caught on the Streets of Lozells
Miles Blakeney and Luke Hazell, both 37, left their victim with life-altering injuries after snatching him just before 8pm on 21 January 2023. The attack unfolded when a masked gang leapt from a Land Rover on Anglesey Street, Lozells, chasing the man in his 20s before bundling him into the vehicle. His coat was ripped off, and a cover was forced over his head.
Harrowing Ordeal at Edgbaston Flat
The victim was driven two miles to a flat in Edgbaston. A frantic call to police came just after 8.10pm from a relative, then the victim managed to phone another family member, whispering urgently: “They have kidnapped me, they want money. Three mill (£3m).”
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During the following nights, the victim endured terrifying torture. Tied up and scalded with boiling water, he suffered for days. An attempted escape in the early hours saw him strike a guard with a vodka bottle—but freedom still eluded him.
Police Hunt Leads to Conviction
He was dumped, naked and battered, in the street just before 10pm on 26 January. A member of the public raised the alarm, leading to a Major Crime Unit probe. Detectives tracked phone data, car movements, and used DNA to nail Hazell, who masterminded the kidnapping, and Blakeney, who ran the torture flat.
