KEY POINTS:
A Far North businessman has told of being kidnapped, tied up in his home and ordered to hand over the keys to his business and his bank cards.
Police say it was the second time in two years that kidnappers had targeted Kevin Steed, who owns Steed's Butchery and Dairy at Waiharara, north of Kaitaia.
Details emerged at a depositions hearing in the Whangarei District Court on Monday.
Police say that in October 2005, Terri Lois Gage, 25, was a member of a group who kidnapped Mr Steed from a Ruakaka address, bundled him into a car and drove him to a rural property near Kaikohe.
Mr Steed was made to give the pin number of his bank cards, and was then held captive by another man, Herbert Bradley, while Gage and two unidentified men drove off in Mr Steed's truck and used his bank card.
In May 2007, Gage was involved in kidnapping Mr Steed a second time. Police allege she was assisted by Manahi Ranapia Briggs, 22, and Zane Te Kawau Phillips, 27.
She pleaded guilty to her role in both incidents and will be sentenced in April.
Bradley denies being involved with Gage in the first kidnapping. Briggs and Phillips have denied involvement in the second.
Bradley faces a single count of kidnapping, and Briggs and Phillips each face charges of kidnapping, aggravated robbery, using a bank card and arson.
Mr Steed told the court that in May last year, Gage visited him at his Far North home. She arrived late at night and the pair shared a bed.
The next thing he recalled was being jumped on.
He said there were two men in the room, who police allege were Briggs and Phillips. Mr Steed said he heard Gage yelling at them to tie him up.
He said the intruders said they knew he had money and they had come to "clean him out".
His hands were taped together and he was blindfolded with his own shirt and held against his bed.
Mr Steed said he was repeatedly punched and warned that if he reported the incident to police, he and his family would be at risk.
He was told to stay where he was as the three fled to his shop where money from the till, cigarettes and other items were allegedly taken.
Mr Steed said he later discovered his card was used at an A" at Coopers Beach.
The court was told Mr Steed knew Gage and had helped her financially because he felt sorry for her. He did not report the October 2005 kidnapping to police, but did report the second incident.
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE
