Five people have received significant prison sentences following a man’s harrowing Lincoln kidnap escape. The victim endured a terrifying two-day ordeal, enduring violence and threats from his captors. His desperate leap from a first-floor window ultimately led to his freedom.
Dramatic footage captured the moment of the escape. The man jumped into a tree, then quickly reached the street. There, he remarkably encountered a marked police vehicle by chance.
Lincolnshire police described the experience as “horrifying.” They stated the patrol car’s presence likely saved the man’s life. DC Liam Henderson, who led the investigation, highlighted the victim’s bravery. He noted the man “quite literally risked everything” to flee his captors.
The ordeal began on July 4, 2025. The victim was lured to a Market Rasen address, where he soon realised he was trapped. Inside, Brad’Lee Ranyard, Nathan Gladwell, Jackson Nicholson, Craig Ranyard, and Danielle Thompson held him against his will.
For hours, the group subjected him to brutal treatment. He faced repeated assaults, threats, humiliation, and torment. Police confirmed the captors filmed the abuse on their phones, laughing throughout.
The next day, captors forced the man into an Isuzu pickup truck. They then drove him along back roads to a property in Lincoln, arriving at 7:30 AM. Here, he was again held captive.
At 11:23 AM, the man seized a critical opportunity. He was seen diving from the window, landing in a tree, before reaching the ground. Footage from a police car, which had just turned into the street, showed him running towards it. He repeatedly shouted, “Let me in, let me in.”
An officer immediately recognised the man’s distress. They quickly understood he was fleeing danger and promptly took him to safety. DC Henderson called this a “sustained and deeply distressing ordeal.” The victim showed “remarkable courage” during his successful Lincoln kidnap escape.
Henderson emphasised the sheer chance of the police car’s arrival. This moment “changed the course of events,” he said. It allowed officers to provide help precisely when it was most needed. The victim also gave permission for the dramatic escape footage, and subsequent arrests, to be shared publicly.
At Lincoln Crown Court, Brad’Lee Ranyard, 20, and Jackson Nicholson, 25, each received nine-year jail terms. They were convicted of kidnap and false imprisonment. Craig Ranyard, 42, was jailed for five years and three months for false imprisonment. Danielle Thompson, 38, received four years and nine months for the same offence. Nathan Gladwell, 36, was imprisoned for three years and seven months, also for false imprisonment.
