Drugs gang henchman jailed for garage torture

Kasim Thompson was the second of nine people to be sentenced for the kidnap and torture of three men

A man who helped drug gangsters kidnap and torture three men in a garage has been jailed for nine years.

Kasim Thompson, 35, was part of the group behind the two-hour ordeal in South Shields in September last year, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

He admitted false imprisonment and blackmail and was the second of nine people to be sentenced, with garage owner Craig Seales jailed for 10 years and four months.

Judge Amanda Rippon said she could not be sure who inflicted injuries, including broken bones, but all those present were equally responsible.

The court heard one of the victims reportedly owed a £10,000 drugs debt to dealer Daniel Lake, 33, so the man, his "entirely innocent" brother and an accomplice were taken to the garage behind Fowler Street on 18 September for punishment and extortion.

While the man in debt and associate were tortured, their screams picked up on nearby CCTV cameras, the brother was driven around "bloodied and scared" to the family's home and business to try and get money, Judge Rippon said.

They were all eventually set free having been warned to pay the gang £20,000, with the brothers and their family then fleeing South Shields.

One man had suffered broken ribs and another a smashed hand, the court heard.

'Clear willingness'

Judge Rippon said the violence was "deliberate and amounted to torture", while the fear and psychological impact of the attacks had been "devastating".

She said men of large build were in the garage to increase the fear of the captives, although she could not say who inflicted which injuries.

One of the victims said he strongly believed they were all going to be killed.

Judge Rippon said Thompson, of Cedar Grove in South Shields, came and went several times during the ordeal.

She said the fact he returned multiple times showed a "clear willingness" to participate, otherwise he would have "run a mile when given the opportunity".

The court heard Thompson had convictions going back to his childhood, including for affray and threatening to harm court witnesses.

The rest of the gang are all due to be sentenced at a later date.

Their charges are:

• Daniel Lake, 33, of Landseer Gardens, South Shields, pleaded guilty to two counts of false imprisonment and blackmail

• Samantha Olsen, 36, of Sheridan Road, South Shields, pleaded guilty to two counts of false imprisonment and blackmail

• Jonathon Ferguson, 31, of Quarry Lane, South Shields, pleaded guilty to two counts of false imprisonment and blackmail

• Iain Sutherland, 33, of Marigold Walk, South Shields, pleaded guilty to two counts of false imprisonment and blackmail

• Grant Maclean, 24, of Bluebell Way, South Shields, pleaded guilty to two counts of false imprisonment and blackmail

• Jonathon Mason, 35, of Pine Avenue, South Shields, pleaded guilty to affray

• Liam Price, 30, of Oak Avenue, South Shields, pleaded guilty to affray