Dramatic footage shows a kidnapped man jumping from a first-floor window into a tree before running into the street and, by chance, coming across a police car.
Lincolnshire police said the ordeal of the unnamed man had been “horrifying” and the presence of a marked police vehicle “may have saved his life”.
DC Liam Henderson said the CCTV footage captured a desperate moment in which the victim “quite literally risked everything to get away from those holding him captive”.
Lincoln crown court heard that the victim had been targeted and subjected to a terrifying ordeal linked to a past relationship breakdown. On 4 July 2025, he was lured to an address in Market Rasen where it soon became clear he would be unable to leave.
Inside the address were Brad’Lee Ranyard, Nathan Gladwell, Jackson Nicholson, Craig Ranyard and Danielle Thompson. For hours the victim endured violence and intimidation, police said. He was “repeatedly assaulted, threatened, humiliated and tormented” by his captors, who filmed the abuse on their mobile phones and laughed.
The next day the man was forced into the back of a Isuzu pickup truck and driven along back roads to a property in Lincoln. He arrived at 7.30am and was again held against his will.
At 11.23am the man seized his opportunity. He can be seen diving from the window into the tree, before getting to the ground and running into the street. Footage from a police car, which had turned into the street, shows the man running towards it saying: “Let me in, let me in”.
Police said the officer immediately recognised the man’s distress, realised he was fleeing a dangerous situation and took him to safety.
Henderson, who led the investigation, said: “This was a sustained and deeply distressing ordeal in which a man was subjected to violence, threats and humiliation at the hands of people who appeared to find amusement in his suffering.
“The victim showed remarkable courage in seizing the opportunity to escape.”
Henderson said it was sheer chance that a police car had entered the street. “That moment changed the course of events and allowed officers to get him to safety when he needed help most,” he said.
“We often hear concerns that victims may feel alone or that help will not arrive when it is needed. This case is a powerful reminder that when someone reaches out for help, we will do everything we can to protect them and bring those responsible to justice.”
Police said the victim had given permission for the footage, which also shows the arrests, to be shared.
A judge at Lincoln crown court gave nine-year jail terms to Brad’Lee Ranyard, 20, and Nicholson, 25, for kidnap and false imprisonment. Craig Ranyard, 42, was jailed for five years and three months after being convicted of false imprisonment.
Thompson, 38, was jailed for four years and nine months after being convicted of false imprisonment. Gladwell, 36, was jailed for three years and seven months after being convicted of false imprisonment.
Lincolnshire police said the ordeal of the unnamed man had been “horrifying” and the presence of a marked police vehicle “may have saved his life”.
This report is published with credit to theguardian.com. Full available text from the wire is above. Read on theguardian.com →
Source: theguardian.com · Mark Brown North of England correspondent. Published 4 Sept 2026, 01:16 pm.
