Pair jailed for kidnap and assault of wrong man

James Ball Sr drove the car, while his son, James Ball Jr, attacked the man

A father and son who kidnapped and attacked the wrong man in a case of mistaken identity have been jailed.

James Ball Sr and James Ball Jr followed a taxi on Albert Street, Leek, on 10 March and flashed blue lights at it, causing the taxi driver to stop as he thought it was a police car.

The father, 37, ordered the passenger out of the taxi and dragged him to the other car where his son, 18, attacked him, but they then realised they had the wrong person and let him go.

The pair, of Beatty Road, Leek, pleaded guilty to kidnap at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Ball Sr also admitted impersonating a police constable and Ball Jr also admitted assault causing actual bodily harm.

The father was jailed for three years and the son sentenced to two years and three months.

'Dangerous pair'

Police said the father had driven the car while the son carried out the attack.

When they realised they had mistaken the victim for someone else, the car door was unlocked, allowing the man to make his way to safety, officers said.

After their sentencing on Wednesday, police said the pair were "dangerous offenders".

Det Con Kelsey Johnson from Staffordshire Police said: "This was a particularly distressing case for the victim, who was completely unaware why the offenders targeted him, before realising it was a case of mistaken identity."

She said thankfully the man's injuries were not serious and he did not need medical treatment.