Waipukurau man assaulted and kidnapped

A man was allegedly assaulted and then kidnapped from his Waipukurau home last night by three men.

He fled his captors by jumping from a moving vehicle, Hastings Detective Sergeant Stuart Fleming said today.

Mr Fleming said the 41-year-old-man was at home about 10.30pm when three men, one known to him, arrived.

"Demands were made for money and the complainant was assaulted by all three males," he said.

The alleged offenders then armed themselves with an axe and the victim was placed in a vehicle.

"He was being driven to an ATM machine in Waipukurau when he managed to escape by jumping out of the moving vehicle.

"The complainant ran to a nearby service station and the police were called," Mr Fleming said.

Police found three alleged offenders in a vehicle in the area.

Three Waipukurau men are to appear in Hastings District Court tomorrow. The men, two aged 28 and the other 17, are jointly charged with kidnapping, assault with intent to rob, threatening to kill, aggravated burglary and possession of offensive weapons.

The victim suffered grazes and bruising. He was treated by St John Ambulance staff, but did not need hospital attention.

- NZPA