TWO more people have appeared in court in relation to the kidnap of a businessman in Rossendale.

Heath Bowling, 37, of High Lane, Stockport, has been charged with perverting the course of justice after Paul Brady was kidnapped from Beaufort Lane, Weir, on Saturday, August 1.

Stacia Crossley, 27, of Padiham Road, Burnley, has been charged with assisting an offender in relation to the same incident.

They appeared at Burnley Magistrates’ Court yesterday but their cases were adjourned and no pleas were entered.

Police do not know the whereabouts of Mr Brady but said after inquiries, they believe he may now be dead.

Last month, Paul Devalda, 34, of Padiham Road, Burnley, was charged with the murder of Mr Brady, of Rochdale.

Detectives are continuing a widescale hunt for the businessman’s body.

At the time of the kidnap Mr Brady was a site manager of an exclusive housing development at Lynn’s Court. Police said he had travelled to the site to do some work on a house with a friend.

As they left the development they were travelling along Beaufort Road in two separate vehicles, Mr Brady was driving a white Ford Connect van and his friend was driving a silver Mercedes 190 registration.

Officers said their vehicles were boxed in by the kidnappers’ vehicles on Beaufort Road, with as many as eight to ten kidnappers.

They allegedly dragged Mr Brady from his vehicle and assaulted him before forcing him into one of their vehicles and speeding away from the scene.