Two men jailed after kidnapping a man in Croydon who survived after he managed to call his wife from back of van

Two men have been jailed after they kidnapped a man in a random attack last November.

Benjamin Oliveiro, 37, and Aubin Wadman, aged 24, both from Croydon, were sentenced to eight and nine years respectively after they were found guilty of kidnap.

The court heard that at around 2.30am on November 25, 2019, the 49-year-old victim was parking his vehicle in Harcourt Road in Thornton Hearth when he was grabbed and bundled into the back of a van.

The men drove away at speed, driving erratically through the streets of Croydon. In the back of the van the victim managed to ring his wife who called police.

He was then able to speak to officers and provide his location from his phone.

The message was quickly passed onto a nearby unit who were able to locate the van, which failed to stop for police.

Following a pursuit, the defendants jumped out of the vehicle and attempted to run but were tasered and detained following a short foot chase.

The victim was released by officers who was extremely shaken but unharmed.

The Metropolitan Police said the men were not known to each other and Oliveiro and Wadman’s motive remains unclear.

Detective Constable Liz Old who led the investigation said: “This was a terrifying ordeal for the victim and it was thanks to his quick thinking to call his wife and provide his location that we were able to track the van down so quickly.

“We should also commend the member of the public who witnessed the kidnap and called the police, and the officers on scene who acted extremely swiftly and bravely to bring the incident to a safe conclusion.

“Oliveiro and Wadman are clearly dangerous individuals and we are glad they are now behind bars where they can cause no further harm.”

Pictured: Aubin Wadman and Benjamin Oliveiro