A MAN was kidnapped by two men and bundled into the boot of a car, a court heard.
Jamie Kilnan and Carl Moule both admitted kidnapping Daniel Thomas from an address in Sandfields in Port Talbot on March 22 and putting him into the boot of an orange car.
Their victim had two mobile phones in his pocket and had tried to call police, but was heard trying to speak to the 999 operator and taken from the car before being assaulted.
As they then drove him to a nearby address, Mr Thomas's mum and stepfather saw the car and confronted their son's kidnappers, allowing him to run to safety.
Prosecutor Frank Phillips said the incident had started at 6.15pm when Mr Thomas, who was watching television, saw the orange car outside and knowing it was linked to Moule decided not to open the door.
Moule then come inside, and told Mr Thomas "you're coming with me, boy" before picking him up from the sofa and Kilnan then helped carry Mr Thomas outside where the pair, who also admitted assault, punched him to his face, upper body and eye and kicked him to the ribs. Rachel Lovell also slapped Mr Thomas.
Moule then put him in the boot and drove off, but Mr Thomas was overheard by Lovell using his phone and was again assaulted before being put into the backs seat. He twice tried to escape but failed.
During the scuffle with Mr Thomas's stepfather and mother, his stepfather was bitten.
Mr Thomas was left with lumps to his head and scratches to his face.
Craig Jones, for Moule, aged 23, of Chopin Road, said his client knew he had committed a serious offence but said he had a "different side to him" and said it was not a typical kidnap.
Catherine Richards, for Kilnan, aged 23, of Southdown Road said her client's role was less involved than Moule's.
"He is someone who wants to change his lifestyle," she said.
Lovell, aged 24, also of Southdown Road, Sandfields was given a conditional discharge, the other two will be sentenced on Friday.
Judge Huw Davies told Lovell he understood she had acted out of a sense of loyalty because of Mr Thomas's alleged role in a burglary but that she knew "perfectly well" there was a way to report crime.
"That's simply to let the police know about it," he told her.
