Gang jailed for holding two men hostage in a Birmingham flat and torturing them

A twisted gang have been jailed for kidnapping two men before forcing them to 'bark like dogs, perform sex acts and dance' during a campaign of sadistic torture.

Kasam Zaman, 37, of Perry Barr, Steven Storey, 41, also from Perry Barr and Kurtis Hayes, 33, of Handsworth held the pair hostage for four days during which they were beaten, tortured, hit with weapons and humiliated.

A court heard the "brutal" abuse included getting the two men to attack and sexually abuse each other - making one of them "bark like a dog." He was also made to sing and dance along to a rap song played on a mobile phone and if he made a mistake during the routine he was assaulted. The two 'terrified' men thought they were going to die but they managed to escape and ran straight to a police station.

The trio were found guilty of two charges of false imprisonment following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court. Zaman and Storey were also convicted of causing a person to engage in sexual activity and ten charges of assault while Hayes was convicted of six assault charges. Zaman was jailed for life and must serve a minimum term of 12 years. Storey was sentenced to 15 years and Hayes was caged for 10 years.

The court was told cannabis dealer Zaman targeted the first individual claiming he had lost or stolen his drugs and needed to repay him. He then imprisoned his friend as well before attempts were made to extort money from them both while they were subjected to "the most malevolent acts of torture."

Sentencing, Judge Simon Drew KC said: "Both men became the subject of false imprisonment. Efforts to extort money increased. The threats, assaults and intimidation increased likewise." He said that both men were initially made to do chores around the house and that their phones and bank cards were taken.

On one occasion Zaman went into the room where they were being held at around 4am and poured cold water over them which felt like "water boarding". He added: "The two men were informed that the money had gone up from £2,000 to £6,000. They were terrified and believed by this stage that they going to die. Various objects were thrown at them including a can of beans."

Judge Drew said that a threat was also made to cut off their toes. He said "I have read the victim personal statements. it is perfectly clear that the impact on both men has been very severe indeed. Both suffer from serious mental health issues. You deliberately targeted two vulnerable victims. You repeatedly inflicted violence including with weapons.

"You caused injuries to both victims, on occasions using sadistic and physically aggressive behaviour, both of a sexual and physical kind. You degraded and humiliated both your victims, making them perform sexually, one on the other."

The court heard Zaman had given his drugs to one of the victims to look after after he had his door broken a week or so earlier. Andrew Wallace, prosecuting, said: "Zaman accused him of stealing or losing these drugs.

"That was the catalyst of all sorts of humiliation, a gratuitous revenge beating. He then phoned Storey, his right hand man, to come over and the beatings started. It involved punches and kicks to the face and body. They were brutal.

"It involved the humiliation, torture and degradation of two individuals. They also decided to take it out on his friend. So both of them were punished and humiliated in a number of different ways. And had things stolen from them and they were held hostage.

"They were trying to extort money from these two people. Two days into the torture Hayes got involved. They were held against their will and subjected to some of the most appalling intimacies. When Hayes became involved they started to bounce ideas around and the beatings became more sexualised and vicious.

"Zaman was helped by these other two in sadistic and perverted ways of punishment. They were subjected to the most malevolent acts of torture This was over a protracted period of time. They made the victims attack each other."

On one occasion, one of the men was given a can of beans and told to throw it at the other man. When he missed, Zaman picked up the can and threw it with force at his head causing an injury.

Mr Wallace said the men were also threatened with knives and a screwdriver. One of the men was also made to bark like a dog while the other danced to music like a puppy and was struck with a hammer. He added: "Each of the defendants took part in the violence encouraging each other."

They were also deprived of sleep and that a video was also taken of one of the men sexually abusing the other, with the footage then sent to that man's daughter,. Mr Wallace added: "The ultimate humiliation was the video."

The trio, all from Birmingham, also took their phones and bank cards which they used to withdraw cash. He said the men escaped one evening when everything was quiet in the flat and the defendants guards were down.

Mr Wallace said the men "ran for all they were worth to the police station to report the matter. Their torture was over". When police went to the flat "Storey and Zaman were desperately trying to get rid of the evidence" as they were arrested.