24 Nov 2013

Men kidnapped and held for hours at knifepoint

10:07 pm on 24 November 2013

Three men were kidnapped and forced to drive around the Wellington region at knifepoint on Saturday for five hours.

Detective Sergeant Christiaan Barnard said the ordeal began in Wainuiomata when the three men, aged 18 and 19, were approached by three younger teenagers, who produced at least one knife and confiscated their mobile phones. They were assaulted several times.

Friends of the captives contacted police after becoming concerned for them.

Police said the three were driven around Porirua, Wainuiomata and the Hutt Valley and the incident ended at a petrol station in the suburb of Waiwhetu at 1.30am on Sunday.

Three teenagers, aged between 14 and 17, will appear in the youth court on Monday, on charges of kidnapping, aggravated robbery and grievous bodily harm.