LINCOLN — A kidnapped man escaped by jumping from a first-floor window in Lincoln after being held, assaulted and humiliated for hours by a group later jailed for false imprisonment. CCTV shows him diving into a tree before running into the street and, by chance, encountering a marked police car.
Lincolnshire police said the man’s ordeal was “horrifying” and said the police vehicle “may have saved his life”. Detective Constable Liam Henderson, who led the investigation, said the victim “quite literally risked everything” to get away from those holding him captive.
The victim, whose name has not been released, was later given permission for the footage to be shared.
How the kidnapping began in Market Rasen
Lincoln Crown Court heard that the case was linked to a past relationship breakdown. On 4 July 2025, the man was lured to an address in Market Rasen, where it soon became clear he would not be allowed to leave.
Inside the property were Brad’Lee Ranyard, Nathan Gladwell, Jackson Nicholson, Craig Ranyard and Danielle Thompson. Police said the victim endured violence and intimidation for hours. He was repeatedly assaulted, threatened, humiliated and tormented while the group filmed the abuse on their mobile phones and laughed.
The court heard that the ordeal was sustained and deeply distressing. Officers said the captors appeared to treat his suffering as entertainment, adding to the severity of the incident.
Forced transfer to Lincoln before the escape
The next day the man was forced into the back of an Isuzu pickup truck and driven along back roads to a property in Lincoln. He arrived at about 7.30am and was again held against his will.
At 11.23am he seized his chance to get away. Footage shows him jumping from the window into a tree, reaching the ground and sprinting into the street in search of help.
The police car, which had just turned into the street, captured the man running towards it and shouting, “Let me in, let me in”. Police said the officer immediately recognised his distress and understood he was fleeing a dangerous situation.
Court sentences and police response after the rescue
After taking the man to safety, officers arrested the suspects. Police said the arrest footage can also be shared because the victim agreed to its release.
A judge at Lincoln Crown Court jailed Brad’Lee Ranyard, 20, and Nicholson, 25, for nine years each for kidnap and false imprisonment. Craig Ranyard, 42, received five years and three months after being convicted of false imprisonment.
Thompson, 38, was jailed for four years and nine months for false imprisonment, while Gladwell, 36, was jailed for three years and seven months for false imprisonment. Henderson said the moment the police car appeared had changed the course of events and allowed officers to get the victim to safety when he needed help most.
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