Gang jailed for kidnap of Polish man

6:28pm Thursday 24th January 2008

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FIVE men involved in a plot to kidnap a Polish man from his Blackburn home have been jailed for a total of more than thirteen years.

The terrified victim was taken from his home and bundled into the boot of a car.

He had also been pistol whipped and struck over the head with a wooden weapon.

Victim Lukasz Radzikowski, was later seen by motorists, making a bid for freedom in his underwear, when the vehicle was caught in a traffic jam.

He managed to escape sixty miles from where he was taken in Palm Street, Blackburn.

As Judge Andrew Gilbart QC handed down the jail terms at Preston Crown Court he said "The whole experience must have been terrifying for him.

"All of you had gone to Blackburn to take part, in one way or another, in kidnap, whether by way of actual taking part or by being present when others carried out the deed and you were there to give support".

Four of the Polish defendants had admitted a charge of conspiracy to kidnap Mr Radzikowski.

They were: Tomasz Czubek, 28, of Lawton Street, Crewe who received two and a half years prison; Kizysztof Gryszkiewicz, 33, of Wistaton Road, Crewe who got three years and two months jail, Lukasz Romanski, 22, of Lord Street, Crewe who was given two and a half years and Rafal Lipinski, 23, also of Wistaton Road who also got two and a half years, plus two weeks on top for a bail offence.

Two other men had denied the charge.

The judge directed the jury to find Przemek Kustasz, 23, of Catherine Street, Crewe not guilty.

Filip Nowak, 21, of Wistaston Road, Crewe, was convicted and sentenced to three years.

The judge said Nowak had presented an "absurd" defence.

The conspiracy related to the morning of March 14 last year when Mr Radzikowski was taken by force from his bed.

He was bundled into the boot of a car and driven away.

According to eyewitnesses, it was thought that as many as between twelve and about twenty people were involved in what happened.

Many of the people involved have not been identified, said the Crown.

Around 9.30am motorists on the A534 bypass near Crewe witnessed Mr Radzikowski making an unsuccessful bid for freedom in his underwear, said Mr Jeremy Lasker, prosecuting.

Police patrols were warned to be on the alert for a blue Ford Sierra, which had been seen by witnesses.

Then, just after 10am, police near Nantwich blocked in a car. The vehicle contained five people.

The whereabouts of Mr Radzikowski was not known until about forty minutes later when he was walking alone and injured along a road.

Mr Lasker said: "The motives for what took place that morning remain unclear.

"Only the defendant Nowak has ever volunteered any sort of explanatiion.

"He was later to tell the police it may have been something to do with a debt or with name calling."