Hairdryer torture gang are jailed

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A gang of drug dealers who tortured a man with a hairdryer in a "savage and inhumane" attack in Leicester have been jailed.

Arjun Thacker, 21, was tied up and burnt with the hairdryer, cigarettes and an iron in a five-hour ordeal.

Jeremy Thorpe, 39, Paul Bradley, 20, Anthony Diglin 25, and Luke Hill, 30, all from Leicestershire, received jail sentences at Leicester Crown Court.

Three others received suspended sentences and community orders.

The court heard Mr Thacker was so badly injured it was impossible for paramedics to determine his race.

I accepted that I was going to die and I just kept thinking of my family Arjun Thacker, victim

Judge Christopher Metcalf said: "The victim of these offences was so savagely beaten that people who knew him didn't even recognise him.

"It was savage and inhumane. The thing that must have been unbearable was the use of the hairdryer, the marks of which were burnt into his skin."

The court heard the gang tortured Mr Thacker, who had recently bought cocaine from the gang, because they believed he had information about the earlier theft of their stash.

His ordeal was filmed on the defendants' mobile phones, which were used as evidence.

'Nightmare ordeal'

He was then driven to a remote country lane where he was told he would be buried.

But he managed to escape and stumbled into a football club's social evening screaming for help.

Paul Bradley and Stefan Downing joined in the violent attack

Mr Thacker, a sales executive, also suffered fractured cheekbones, a broken nose and a broken rib during his ordeal.

After the court hearing he said: "I pretty much prepared myself for death at the time. I accepted that I was going to die and I just kept thinking of my family.

"The thoughts were unbearable and I still have the odd nightmare now. I have recovered but I still have the scars and they aren't going to go away."

Jeremy Thorpe, of Briar Road, Leicester, admitted one charge of false imprisonment and another of grievous bodily harm. He was jailed for six years and eight months.

Community work

Paul Bradley, of Johnson Road, Birstall, Leicestershire, admitted the same charges. He was handed a sentence for public protection and must serve at least three years and four months before he is released.

Luke Hill, of Wavertree Road, Leicester, pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm. He was jailed for 24 months.

Anthony Diglin, of Malabar Road, Leicester, also admitted actual bodily harm and was jailed for 18 months.

Stefan Dowling, 21, of Braunstone Avenue, Leicester, pleaded guilty to the same charge and was given a 30-week jail sentence, suspended for two years. He will also have to do 120 hours community work.

Callum Grant, 23, of Central Avenue, Wigston, Leicestershire, admitted actual bodily harm and was jailed for 25 weeks, suspended for two years. He was ordered to do 100 hours community work.

Craig Diglin, 23, of Sycamore Road, Birstall, was given a two-year supervision order after he admitted Aggravated Bodily Harm.