Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire – Four men have been sentenced to a total of 54 years in jail for a violent and pre-planned attack and kidnapping of two victims. The gang used bats, knives, and pepper spray during the assault, dragging the victims out of a vehicle and driving them away in the boots of two cars.
The attack took place in December 2022, and after a trial at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, two defendants were convicted of kidnapping, assault, and weapons charges, while the other two had previously admitted their guilt. The victims were brutally attacked, bound with duct tape, and interrogated before being placed in the car boots, with one victim managing to escape and call for help.
One of the victims sustained severe injuries, including bruising, stab wounds, broken limbs, sepsis, and kidney failure, requiring a two-month hospitalization. The perpetrators, Egidijus Savickas and Dovydas Smilginis, were found guilty of multiple charges including kidnapping and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
The remaining two assailants, Modestas Stokus and Mohamed Nasar, pleaded guilty to the charges at the beginning of the trial in September 2023. The four men received varying sentences, with Stokus and Nasar each sentenced to 12 years and seven months, while Savickas and Smilginis were given 14-year sentences.
Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Ian Fitzgerald described the attack as a brutal and pre-planned crime, emphasizing the severity of the actions taken by all four individuals involved. He noted the rarity of such crimes in Staffordshire and expressed hope that the sentencing would send a clear message against such criminal behavior in the community.
The victims’ ordeal serves as a reminder of the importance of safety and vigilance in the face of violent crimes. The swift apprehension and sentencing of the perpetrators demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement to hold individuals accountable for their actions and ensure justice for victims of such heinous acts.