A DOPEY father and son duo who bungled a kidnapping have been jailed.
James Ball Sr, 37 and James Ball Jr, 18, were both caged on Wednesday for their role in the botched kidnapping in Stoke-on-Trent.
Staffordshire PoliceThe victim was released after Ball Jr and Ball Sr realised they had nabbed the wrong person[/caption]
Both father and son admitted to the bungled kidnap attempt
The father and son team both admitted to their part in the kidnapping.
Ball Sr was put behind bars for three years and Ball Jr was handed down a sentence of two years and three months.
On March 10 the victim of the dopey duo got into a taxi and noticed he was being followed by another vehicle.
When the pursuing car suddenly began flashing blue lights the taxi driver came to a stop.
Ball Sr got out of the pursuing car and waltzed up to the taxi, demanding the victim exit the vehicle.
He then dragged the victim away from the taxi and bundled them into the Ball’s waiting motor.
Ball Jr was waiting in the passenger seat of the car and proceeded to assault the victim while his dad, driving the car, sped off.
At this point the bungling father-son duo realised they had kidnapped the wrong individual in a case of mistaken identity.
They stopped the car and let their terrified victim escape to safety.
Thankfully, the victim was left with non-serious injuries and didn’t require medical treatment.
The incident was reported and offices immediately launched an investigation.
Ball Sr and Ball Jr were identified as suspects shortly after the probe was launched and were arrested.
Both admitted their part in the gaffe and were dragged before a judge after being charged.
Ball Sr admitted to kidnap and impersonating a police constable.
Ball Jr admitted to kidnap and assaulting a person thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm.
DC Kelsey Johnson, from Staffordshire Police’s criminal investigations department, said: “This was a particularly distressing case for the victim who was completely unaware why the offenders targeted him, before realising it was a case of mistaken identity.
“I’m pleased that we’ve been able to build the evidence needed to secure this outcome and to put two dangerous offenders behind bars.”
GettyThe two men impersonated police officers, using blue flashing lights in a bid to fool their victim[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
