A violent gang dressed as police officers gouged a dad's eye in a brutal 18-hour kidnap and torture ordeal - only stopping to eat McDonald's.
The victim was beaten with metal batons, stabbed, attacked with a machete, burnt with an iron and had boiling water poured over him.
His kidnappers then demanded £200,000 in ransom money from his terrified family, who were forced to listen to their loved one's screams of pain, as he was repeatedly and continually tortured.
Handcuffed
On July 26 last year, the dad was taken to a park in Whiston where he was handcuffed to a barrier and was subjected to a brutal attack which included him being struck with a machete through his foot.
Prosecutor Peter Hussey told Liverpool Crown Court how at around 11.30pm David Kelly, Liam Field, and three other men, arrived at the home of their victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, dressed as police officers.
The gang , who were described by the victim’s devastated wife as “polite and confident”, carried out a search of the home and then seemingly arrested her husband.
It is understood the gang believed the victim's family were involved in drugs supply and were motivated by money.
Prosecutor Hussey added: “The victim’s wife had no suspicion that they were not real police officers.
“After searching the house they asked the victim’s wife for her mobile phone and unbeknown to the family they had also stolen £300.
"We are not police.. it’s going to be a long night"
“They then put the victim into a stolen Audi A3 and while in the car one of the gang members even radioed as if to call ahead to the station, a message which was answered by a gang member who was hidden in the boot of the car.
“The victim was then told ‘we are not police officers, it’s going to be a long night’ before he was struck with a metal pole to the face.”
The court heard how the gang who had at this point been joined by two other members on a motorbike, including a 17-year-old defendant who cannot be named, had intended to use their victim’s wife’s phone to make ransom demands but were unable to unlock it.
To continue their plan the gang instead went and bought a top-up mobile phone, known as the 'demand phone' and went to their distraught victim’s family home, at around 4am.
In a recording played to the court the gang could be heard screaming the number of the phone out and demanding money as the victim’s wife told them she did not have it, through tears.
Put in the boot of the car
Prosecutor Hussey told how at around 3.30am - due to the time of year and it becoming light outside - the gang were forced to move from the woodland and took their victim in the boot of the stolen car to the house of John Hayter who was known to the gang.
Defending Hayter, Daniel Travers told the court how he was presented with the gang at his door and “made the wrong decision” in letting them in.
Eye gouged and attacked with boiling water
Once inside the gang continued their torture and handcuffed their victim to a chair in the kitchen and bound his legs with duct tape.
The vulnerable dad was then continually assaulted and tortured, until past 6pm - 18 hours since he was kidnapped.
Prosecutor Hussey added: “The victim suffered a series of injuries including burns to his shoulder and elbow after boiling water was poured on him, his left eye had been gouged by a piece of wooden pole, he had been cut with knives, had swelling to his face a fractured arm and lacerations to his kneecaps.”
Trip to McDonald's
Mr Hussey told how during the horrific torture of their victim, Hayter and the 17-year-old defendant drove to McDonald’s were they bought £60 worth of food for the gang.
At some point the gang also cleaned the Audi A3 with fairy liquid.
However at around 6pm police stormed the property and arrested the gang members, some of who were found hiding in an under stairs cupboard.
Prosecutor Hussey added: “this was a sustained and repeated attack which lasted 18 hours in total.
“It was pre-meditated and sophisticated.
Police uniforms and equipment
“It involved police uniforms, police equipment and an array of weapons which had the intention to cause much more serious harm.
“They deliberately caused harm and told the victim’s family he wouldn’t be safely returned unless a ransom was paid.”
Defending dad of three David Kelly, Julian Nutter, told the court how his client “deeply regrets his conduct”
He added: “He is deeply sorry for what he has done to the victim and his family and his own family who are now without a breadwinner for the foreseeable future.”
Meanwhile the defence for Field Paul Becker said his client had expressed remorse.
Sentencing the gang Judge Gary Woodall said: "This must have been utterly terrifying for the victim and his family.
"Although there were no videos recovered the victim recalled how during the attacks a mobile phone was held up, which I believe was to film the victim or on a video call to another phone.
'Humiliation and degradation'
"This all adds to the humiliation and degradation of the victim.
"He had boiling water poured over him with a kettle he was stabbed in his legs with knives, struck with a broom until the handle broke.
"Then the handle, which had an exposed screw, was used to gouge his eye.
"All these weapons were recovered by police.
"The victim and his family have had to leave their home and the area where they lived.
"Their children have not been able to return to their schools.
"Meticulous planning went into this offending."
Kelly, 28, of Gonville Road, Bootle was sentenced to 13 years and six months for kidnap, false imprisonment and GBH with intent
He was also sentenced to 10 months for a separate offence of aggravated vehicle taking and dangerous driving which he will serve consecutively to his 13 years and six month sentence.
Field, of Kevins Drive, in Kirkby , was sentenced to 12 years and 9 months for kidnap, false imprisonment and GBH with intent and
Hayter of Woodhurst Close, Huyton was sentenced to 8 years and 1 month for false imprisonment and GBH with intent.
The 17-year-old defendant was sentenced to 4 years for false imprisonment.
He was also sentenced to 12 months to run consecutively for a separate offence of possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine
