Two men have been jailed for kidnapping and trying to make their terrified victim rob a store.

Jeetinder Singh, 33, of Embassy Close, Gillingham, and Duncan Bennett, 34, of Breton Road, Rochester, first attacked their victim after breaking into his house in Medway.

A court heard they then escorted him to a car to force him to commit a robbery.

Both pleaded guilty to kidnap and assault at Maidstone Crown Court.

Singh was jailed for three years and four months and Bennett was sent to prison for three years and one month.

Jolene Wood, 34, of Sheals Crescent, Maidstone, who was with Singh and Bennett at the time, also pleaded guilty to assault and was given a 12-month suspended sentence.

The court heard that the trio drove to East Court Lane, Gillingham, where the victim was staying at 4pm on Saturday, February 9, last year.

Singh believed the victim owed him money.

The pair pushed their way into the property and then punched and kicked the victim.

They then forced him into the back of their car and told him he must earn the money he owed by robbing a shop.

They drove to a nearby supermarket where Bennett took the victim to the entrance and waited for him outside.

But once inside, the victim alerted the store's security and police were called.

Witness accounts, forensic evidence and CCTV footage later linked Singh and Bennett to the offences.

The victim received cuts to his face, bruises to his body and a cut to the back of his neck during the attack.

PC Magnus McAuley of Medway CID said: "This must have been a terrifying ordeal for the victim.

"The injuries inflicted by Singh and Bennett were caused maliciously and with intent to cause serious harm.

"Singh and Bennett also thought that by using fear and intimidation they could force another person to commit a crime.

"Thankfully, with the help of shop staff, the victim was able to escape and the pair have now been brought to justice."

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