Three men who seriously assaulted and kidnapped an innocent man, wrongly believing he was an Albanian drug dealer, have been jailed

* Faisal Fareed, 23, Faizaan Fareed, 26, and Nicholas Shaw, 45 (pictured, left to right), were sentenced to a total of 27 years at Preston Crown Court on Monday (October 24) after they kidnapped a man in Darwen last year. On June 13, 2021, the victim, a man in his 40s, had returned home from work. After getting out of his car, he was attacked by a number of men armed with weapons. The men bundled the victim into his own car and drove him to Dove Lane, Darwen, where they were accusing him of being an Albanian drug dealer. The men continued to threaten him with knives, despite realising he was the wrong man. The men saw a police car and drove to Blackburn, leaving him inside the car. The victim raised the alarm and was given first aid by police officers. He was taken to hospital and treated for 14 stab wounds and a collapsed lung. Detectives launched an investigation and quickly linked the trio to the offences through forensic and telephony evidence. The men pleaded guilty to the offences. • Faisal Fareed, 23, of Lawrence Street, Blackburn, was jailed for 11 years for conspiracy to kidnap, affray, assault and conspiracy to supply drugs. • Faizaan Fareed, 26 of Lawerence Street, Blackburn, was handed a 10 year sentence for conspiracy to kidnap, affray, assault and conspiracy to supply drugs. • Nicholas Shaw, 45, of Medina Close, Accrington, was jailed for six years for conspiracy to kidnap. Det Con Rachel Norris, of Blackburn Police, said: “Both Fareeds and Shaw launched an ill-conceived plot to attack and torture the victim, believing he was an Albanian drug dealer. He was neither Albanian, nor a drug dealer.“Despite him being in a serious condition, bleeding heavily, as well as knowing they had got the wrong man, the attackers continued to use their knives pressing them into his chest and legs. He believed he was going to die.“The men took the victim’s keys believing they would give them access to a closed public house, however, when they realised this was not the case, they drove off with the victim still in the car, all the time threatening him. Eventually after seeing police, they drove to Blackburn and after an hour left him in the car, not caring if he died.“This was an absolutely horrendous attack which left the victim seriously injured. The damage inflicted on him has been long-lasting and he continues to be affected by what happened to this day.“We welcome the sentences handed down at court.”