Trio Jailed for Abduction and Assault

Three individuals have received prison sentences after being found guilty of abducting a man, reportedly to extract details concerning a relative. Lee Ingleheart, 41, Hassan Noor, 31, and Dean Meaker, 58, faced conviction for kidnap at Bristol Crown Court. Mr. Ingleheart additionally received a conviction for possessing a knife. Testimony presented in court detailed the abduction of a 43-year-old man from his residence in Thornbury by the trio on October 20, 2022. For the kidnapping offense, Ingleheart received a sentence of nine years and nine months, Noor was given nine years, and Meaker was handed nine years. Meaker also received an additional six-month sentence for a separate burglary charge. The sentencing proceedings concluded on December 17. The three perpetrators utilized an acquaintance of the victim to orchestrate a meeting at the victim’s home. Upon the victim opening the door, they forcibly entered his property. Subsequently, they escorted him to a Ford Transit van and transported him to an address in Bristol’s Stoke Park area. There, he was unlawfully detained and subjected to assault. The victim managed to escape when two of the three individuals departed the premises to acquire drugs; he then concealed himself on a nearby street and sought assistance. Law enforcement was alerted after a member of the public observed Ingleheart in proximity to the victim’s Thornbury residence, carrying a substantial knife. The Ford Transit van was intercepted in east Bristol, leading to the arrests of Noor and Meaker, and the confiscation of a knuckle duster and several knives. Ingleheart’s arrest occurred in Stoke Park, where officers located the knife reportedly used to menace his victim. Detective Constable Carl Spicer, the investigating officer, commented: “The victim in this case went through a terrifying ordeal at the hands of these three criminals, who showed an extremely concerning propensity for violence, as well as being in possession of some fearsome weapons. “He’s shown immense bravery in telling the police what happened to him and we hope he continues to recover from this horrible experience.” Spicer added, “We want to thank the members of the public who called police with vital information, their actions ensured armed officers were deployed and able to swiftly arrest those responsible.”