Man jailed for three years, 10 months for kidnapping of random man in carpark

Jordan Davies, his co-offender and their kidnapping victim were pursued by police until they crashed on Concord Line. Photo / Bevan Conley

A 19-year-old Whanganui man was kidnapped and taken away in his own car.

The victim was punched, believed he had a gun put to the back of his head, and was involved in a police pursuit which ended when his car crashed.

The incident left him physically and psychologically damaged.

Leaving work, the victim found Jordan Leslie Davies and a co-offender waiting for him when he approached his car in a secure carpark. He had not met them previously.

They demanded that he hand over his money, cellphone and car keys. When the victim reached into his pocket to get his car keys he was punched twice to the head by Davies.

He handed over his cellphone and keys and was told to get into his car and sit in the passenger's seat.

Davies and his co-offender asked how much money he had in his bank account. The 19-year-old told them he had $30.

Whanganui District Court heard that Davies punched the victim in the back of the head from a rear seat and then the victim felt what he believed was the barrel of a gun placed up against him.

"The complainant was told that they had a gun and if he was lying, he would be killed," Judge Philip Crayton said at sentencing.

The car was speeding towards Whanganui city when it was spotted by a police patrol unit.

Police pursued the vehicle, but lost it for a while before locating it again speeding along State Highway 3 towards Palmerston North before it accelerated down Concord Line.

"The driving was in significant excessive speed and it led to him [the co-offender] losing control, crashing through a fence, down a hill and coming to rest within a paddock," Judge Crayton said.

"The police stopped and saw a person leaving the vehicle. That was plainly Davies."

Davies was drunk, and earlier that night he assaulted his partner following an argument before meeting with the co-offender at an unnamed business.

The crash had physical and financial repercussions for the victim as he suffered "a small graze and swelling to the right eyebrow and tenderness to his right cheek inside of his head," Judge Crayton said.

"He lost his vehicle — insurance paid $7100, but there was a $400 excess. This was a vehicle which was, for him at his age and in his circumstances, his pride and joy."

In crashing, the vehicle took out 65 metres of wire, batten fencing and 12 concrete posts, doing damage in excess of $2400.

The judge said the incident had taken a significant emotional toll on the victim.

"Those threats and actions have left him scared and avoiding circumstances where he may be alone at night. He has moved out of the Whanganui area and that has provided some reassurance.

"Undoubtedly, the long-term effect of the 'what ifs' and the fear of how this could have turned out will take a long time for him to recover from."

Davies pleaded guilty to charges of burglary, aggravated robbery, kidnapping, threatening to kill or do grievous bodily harm and male assaults female in Whanganui District Court.

It was confirmed during proceedings that there was no firearm present.

Judge Crayton sentenced Davies to three years and 10 months' imprisonment, remitted his $538.71 worth of fines and ordered reparation of $200.