Joyrider case men sentenced

A suspected joyrider was kidnapped and dumped with the words 'I am a car thief, arrest me' written on his forehead by a gang that included a former mayor, Leeds Crown Court was told yesterday.

The teenager was taken on a 35-minute terror ride by Thomas Barrett, 69, ex-mayor of South Kirkby, North Yorkshire, his son Leslie Barrett, 41, his grandson Wayne Barrett, 21, all of South Kirkby, and Shaun Wheatcroft, 26, of South Elmsall. The four, who all admitted abducting the teenager in April, told police they had decided to make their own inquiries after two cars were stolen and later found damaged.

Thomas Barrett was sentenced to nine months' jail suspended for two years. Wheatcroft and Wayne Barrett were given two years' imprisonment and Leslie Barrett, 15 months.