Drug addict pair kidnap pensioner to get his money
A TERRIFIED pensioner was kidnapped from his home by drug addicts and forced to hand over cash.
The 70-year-old victim had been targeted for money previously by Stephen Dodds and tried to hide when he saw him turn up at his bungalow again.
But the bully tricked his way into the man’s home in Seaton Delaval, Northumberland, and stole money before frogmarching him outside and pushing him into a car, in which his partner, Kim Mason, was waiting to drive them away.
Neighbours who saw the kidnap unfolding, who told the victim not to get in the car, took a photograph of it and called the police.
The pensioner was then taken to a cash machine and made to take all of his money out by Dodds.
Officers later found the Ford Fiesta used in the offence and when they turned up at the couple’s home in Blyth, the shaking victim was found and rescued.
Newcastle Crown Court heard Dodds, who had known the victim for 10 years, had been jailed for 17 weeks in 2015 for theft, fraud, harassment and assault on him. He was given a restraining order but that had expired by the time of the latest offences.
Gavin Doig, prosecuting, said the kidnap happened on August 6, 2020.
The victim was talking to his neighbour in the back garden when he saw Dodds looking through his window.
He asked his neighbour if he could hide but Dodds had spotted him and said he wanted to check if he was all right and said he had something for him.
They ended up inside and Dodds put a crack pipe in the pensioner’s mouth and told him to suck it.
He then helped himself to a tin containing £70 in pound coins before asking how much he had in his bank account and telling him to get his bank card to go to a cash machine.
Mr Doig said: “He went to get his bank card from the bedroom. He was frightened.”
A neighbour saw them walking towards a car Mason was driving and shouted at the victim not go get in as Dodds pushed him towards it and took hold of his hand and told him to get in.
When he tried to walk towards the neighbour, Dodds put his hand round his neck and steered him to the car.
The pensioner was taken to a cash machine and Dodds forced him to withdraw the £180 he had in his account, against his will, with Dodds pressing the buttons and pushing the victim to the side.
Later that evening, police spotted the Fiesta and when they stopped it Mason was in it. She said the victim was at her home with Dodds.
Mr Doig said: “When police got there, the complainant appeared nervous and was shaking. He was asked if he was OK and he shook his head.”
The pensioner said in a victim impact statement: “Since the incident I’m very dubious and frightened to leave my home. I try to avoid leaving if I can. This has made my depression worse and I’m getting flashbacks which I’m trying to forget.”
Dodds and Mason pleaded guilty to kidnap and Dodds also admitted robbery and theft. Drugs were found at their home and Dodds admitted possessing heroin with intent to supply in relation to 20.7g of the drug.
Dodds and Mason both also admitted possessing crack cocaine and heroin and Mason admitted allowing her premises to be used for the supply of class-A drugs.
Mason also admitted unrelated charges from 2019 of possessing an offensive weapon, a stun device, and possessing a bladed article, a bracelet with a concealed blade.
Dodds, 42, of Gladstone Street, Blyth, who has 85 previous convictions and has been remanded in custody since August 2020, was jailed for six years.
Mason, 52, of Gladstone Street, Blyth, who has 11 previous convictions, was locked up for two and a half years.
Ben Campbell, for Dodds, said: “He comes from a good family but fell into problems in his teenage years and fell into using heroin.
“He fell into drug use again when his mother’s cancer returned. She sadly passed away in January 2020.
“He was a heavy drug user battling a significant drug issue and feeding his own habit. His life was a mess at that time. He regrets his actions.
Rachel Hedworth, for Mason, said: “She’s utterly remorseful and she has demonstrated a determination to address the addiction, which has clearly been a significant problem for many years.”