Pair kidnapped man from a taxi

One had pretended to be a cop

- By Post & Times reporter

A FATHER and son have been jailed after they kidnapped a man from a taxi.

James Ball senior, aged 37, and his 18-year-old son, James Ball junior, pictured right, were in a car which followed the cab to Haregate Road, Leek.

Ball senior dragged the man out of the cab and bundled him into his car. Both defendants attacked the man and Ball junior struck the victim's head with a dart causing it to bleed.

The terrifying incident came to an end with Ball senior stating, 'I have mistaken you for someone else, get out! Now Ball senior has been jailed for three years and his son was locked up for 27 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Prosecutor Jennifer Devans-Tamakloe said the incident happened in Leek on March 10. She said: “The Vauxhall flashed its blue lights causing the taxi driver to believe it was the police. He stopped his cab and saw the driver, James Ball Senior, get out of the Vauxhall wearing a hi-vis jacket. He approached the taxi and said to the passenger, ‘You are coming with me’ dragged him out the taxi, onto the floor.