A man has been charged following a horrifying incident in which a teenager was allegedly forced into a car and kidnapped before being left seriously injured at a train station.
Police were called to Vineyard Way in Purfleet, Essex, at around 7:35pm on Friday, 7 March, following reports of dangerous driving and an assault on a teenage boy.
Spencer Ven Schevensteen, 38, of Botany Terrace in Purfleet, was arrested shortly after the incident. He has now been charged with kidnap, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and common assault. He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Southend-on-Sea Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 10 March.
According to Essex Police, Schevensteen allegedly exited a vehicle, assaulted the teen, and then forced him into the car before fleeing the scene. The teenager was later found near Purfleet train station with serious injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.
Police located the suspect’s vehicle within 30 minutes of the initial call less than a mile away on Botany Terrace, where Schevensteen was taken into custody.
In a statement, Essex Police said: “A 38-year-old man has been charged with kidnap after a teenager was reportedly forced into a vehicle in Purfleet. The teenager was taken to hospital for further treatment by paramedics.”
Investigations remain ongoing and officers are appealing for anyone with additional information or footage of the incident to come forward.
