Boy torture gang jailed for total of 40 years

The 16-year-old boy was kidnapped in Harehills, Leeds, bundled into a van and driven to a house where he was tortured over a five-hour period, Leeds Crown Court heard.

The teenager was left screaming in agony as a hot iron was placed eight times onto his leg, along with boiling water.

His family were told he would be murdered unless they paid 20,000, said to be a drug debt.

A neighbour who heard screaming at the house called police but on arrival the boy was so frightened he told officers nothing.

Despite finding handcuffs, a knife, a balaclava and gloves – and marks on the boy's wrists – the officers left after he said they had been "play fighting".

Judge Rodney Grant said the boy must have been terrified and in excruciating pain.

After the judge delivered the sentences, there was uproar in the dock when abuse was shouted at the judge and scuffling began with dock officers.

He jailed Shaheed Rahman, 24, of Chapeltown, Leeds, for 12 years and nine months after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap and blackmail. Rahman admitted using the iron.

Syed Ahmed, 24, of Harehills, Leeds, who also pleaded guilty to kidnap and blackmail, got 12 years. He did not take part in the torture but did punch the victim.

Brothers Ali Shuel Hussain and Hassan Ahmed, and Abdul Rajaque, all from Chapeltown, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit blackmail.

Hussain, 28, who also admitted drugs offences, got 10 years in jail. Rajaque, 29, who had acted as a driver, got five years and three months. Ahmed, 25, will be sentenced at a later date.

A sixth man is still being sought by detectives.