Pair guilty of kidnapping, stripping and assaulting man in Stockton

Mark Pearce and Donald Hammond were part of a conspiracy involving a man being bundled into a van, his hands and feet bound with cable ties and tape covered his eyes and mouth while he was taken to a caravan located on a field near to Sandy Lane.

Pearce, aged 52, and Hammond, aged 43, both denied being involved in the crime. However, on Wednesday 18 February a jury found them both guilty of conspiracy to kidnap following a 14-day trial at Teesside Crown Court.

They will both return to Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday 7 April to be sentenced.

During the trial, the court heard how the victim was stripped naked, beaten and then forced to film a video for his family to pay a ransom.

Footage played to the court, showed a black Mercedes, hired from London following Pearce’s Land Rover onto the field where the caravan was stationed.

Hammond, of Papermill Place in London, denied that it was him travelling from London to Stockton despite mobile phone data obtained by police showing his mobile phone was connecting to masts in that area.

Also denying being in the Land Rover was Pearce, of Honeycomb Avenue in Stockton, who claimed he was busy racing pigeons at his allotment.

An investigation by detectives from Cleveland Police’s Stockton CID collated various evidence including obtaining CCTV and telephone data that led to their arrests and being charged.

Detective Constable Jonathan Pain, from Stockton CID, said: “Firstly, I want to recognise the courage that has been shown by the victim throughout this process following the unimaginable ordeal he was put through by these men. I hope this verdict can provide him some comfort going forward.

“During the trial, Pearce claimed he was merely racing his pigeons. Yet there was a considerable amount of material presented to the jury that disputed this, including CCTV and mobile phone data. Thankfully, they saw through the smokescreen of his pigeon defence and found him guilty by a unanimous verdict.

“Hammond travelled up from London in a Mercedes that was seen on CCTV throughout the day, with Pearce’s vehicle going to and from the location where the victim was held. The jury also did not believe his account on how his DNA came to be on items left at the scene.

“This was a highly sophisticated plot with national and international elements. I take this opportunity to encourage anyone who has any further information about others involved in this to either contact Crimestoppers anonymously or Cleveland Police on 101 quoting reference number SE24067290.

“Please be assured that any information received will be treated confidentially.”