A man from Capel-Le-Ferne has been jailed for six years for kidnapping another man and driving him around Dover in the back of his van for two hours.

During his ordeal Ben Habbershaw was punched, kicked, partially undressed and was told petrol would be poured on him, before he was dumped in a remote area,” Canterbury Crown Court was told.

Judge James O’Mahony said: “Mercifully there were no serious injuries here but the threats would have caused absolute terror about what would happen to him.”

Carl D’Arcy, 27, of Cauldham Close, had denied kidnapping Mr Habbershaw but was found guilty after a trial in March.

Don Ramble, prosecuting, said the victim and D’Arcy had known each other for two years and were Facebook friends.

At 5.15pm on September 29 last year Mr Habbershaw was walking to his grandmother’s home near Tower Hamlets Park in Dover.

A white transit van pulled up alongside him. Two men got out and pushed Mr Habbershaw into the back of the van. D’Arcy was driving and he turned around and punched Mr Habbershaw in the face.

Another man, not identified, hit his knee with a hammer and the van travelled through Hougham, Capel and Dover while Mr Habbershaw was punched by the man.

He was also told petrol would be poured on him. A knife was produced but not used.

Mr Habbershaw was forced to strip to his tracksuit bottoms and his clothes, trainers, phone, wallet and £10 were taken from him.

He was thrown out of the van in a remote spot and the van drove off.

He walked to the first house he could find, in Ringwould Road, Kingsdown, where he got help from the householder.

The household told police that Mr Habbershaw was distressed and crying and said he had been kidnapped.

He had no shoes and socks.

Simon Taylor, defending, said there was a low likelihood of D’Arcy re-offending. While on remand he had completed courses in jail.

Judge O’Mahony said the background to the case was drug dealing.

Investigating officer Police Constable Gemma Simpson said:

Around 10 minutes later the victim was thrown out of the van into a lane in Kingsdown. He walked to the nearest house, raised the alarm and the police were called.

PC Simpson said: ‘"This was an unprovoked, targeted attack on the victim, who was understandably very shaken by the events of that day.

"D’Arcy’s main motive seems to be one of intimidation. Although he denied any involvement in the case throughout the investigation, the victim was able to identify him and was also able to tell us the route the van had taken, including the stop at the garage to buy fuel.

"I hope this sentence sends a strong message to offenders that taking someone against their will is never acceptable, and perpetrators will be dealt with robustly by both Kent Police and the courts."

Elliot Crawley was also accused of kidnapping Mr Habbershaw but was cleared by a jury at Canterbury Crown Court in March.