TWO Kidderminster men who kidnapped a scorned lover and dumped him at night in a country lane after a terror ride have been jailed at Worcester Crown Court.

Their victim, shop fitter Richard Lloyd, who had been trying to rekindle his affair with Lisa Harpin, was "plainly terrified", said Recorder Roderick Henderson.

Taxi driver, Mark Hull, 40, of Comberton Park Place, and 43-year-old driver Geoffrey Hilton, of Eastwood Drive, both Kidderminster, pleaded guilty to kidnap. Hull was jailed for 18 months and Hilton for a year.

Michael Aspinall, prosecuting, said Mr Lloyd had been in a four-year relationship with Miss Harpin but she had broken it off and begun to see Hull. On October 26 last year, Mr Lloyd had gone to her home in Chester Road North, Kidderminster, in a bid to collect his passport.

After a drink at a local pub, he returned to the house but she refused to let him in because he was becoming a nuisance by stalking her. She telephoned Hull, who turned up with Hilton in a van.

Mr Lloyd, who was in the front garden, was grabbed by Hull, who hit him twice and knocked him unconscious. Mr Lloyd was put in the back of the van and driven to Hurcott Lane, nearly a mile away.

He was dragged out of the van by his feet and punched again by Hull. After the van drove off, he stumbled, dazed and terrified, to get help at a nearby pub, said Mr Aspinall. He was treated in hospital for a black eye and bruising to his ribs and legs.

Hull admitted to police he had been searching for Mr Lloyd because Miss Harpin claimed he had been stalking her. He had slapped him several times.

Gurdeep Garcha, defending, said it was a lovers' dispute and Hull had acted impulsively. The conviction would mean the loss of his taxi licence.

Tom Walkling, for Hilton, said it was not a kidnap for ransom. Hilton's guilt was in driving the van with Hull and his captive.

The recorder said both men were mature and had acted out of character. They would be given credit for the time spent in custody, Hull 69 days and Hilton 110 days.