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Trio jailed for kidnapping man and stabbing him 14 times in case of mistaken identity

Faisal Fareed, Faizaan Fareed and Nicholas Shaw (L-R) kidnapped and assaulted an innocent man as he returned home from work in a case of mistaken identity. (Lancashire Police)
Faisal Fareed, Faizaan Fareed and Nicholas Shaw (L-R) kidnapped and assaulted an innocent man as he returned home from work in a case of mistaken identity. (Lancashire Police)

Three men who stabbed and kidnapped an innocent man, wrongly thinking he was a drug dealer, have been jailed for a total of 27 years.

Faisal Fareed, 23, Faizaan Fareed, 26, and Nicholas Shaw, 45, set about the man, in his 40s, as he returned home from work before bundling him into his own car and kidnapping him in Darwen, Lancashire.

They drove him to Dove Lane, also in the town, where they accused him of being an Albanian drug dealer.

Despite realising it was a case of mistaken identity, they continued to threaten him with knives before fleeing to Blackburn when they spotted a police car, leaving their victim inside the car.

He was taken to hospital and treated for 14 stab wounds and a collapsed lung.

The trio drove the victim to Dove Lane in Darwen, where they continued to threaten him, despite realising they had the wrong person. (Google Maps)
The trio drove the victim to Dove Lane in Darwen, where they continued to threaten him, despite realising they had the wrong person. (Google Maps)

Lancashire Police said detectives launched an investigation after the incident in June last year, and quickly linked the three men to the crime using forensics and phone evidence.

All three pleaded guilty to offences including conspiracy to kidnap, while Faisal Fareed and Faizaan Fareer also admitted affray, assault and conspiracy to supply drugs.

They were jailed for a total of 27 years at Preston Crown Court. Faisal Fareed, of Lawrence Street, Blackburn, was jailed for 11 years; Faizaan Fareed, of Lawerence Street, Blackburn, was handed a 10-year sentence; and Shaw, of Medina Close, Accrington, was jailed for six years.

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Detective Constable Rachel Norris, from Blackburn Police, said: "Both Fareeds and Shaw launched an ill-conceived plot to attack and torture the victim, believing he was an Albanian drug dealer. He was neither Albanian, nor a drug dealer.

"Despite him being in a serious condition, bleeding heavily, as well as knowing they had got the wrong man, the attackers continued to use their knives pressing them into his chest and legs. He believed he was going to die.

A general view of Preston Crown Court, Preston.
The trio were sentenced to a total of 27 years in jail at Preston Crown Court. (Stock image: Getty)

She added: "The men took the victim’s keys believing they would give them access to a closed public house, however, when they realised this was not the case, they drove off with the victim still in the car, all the time threatening him.

"Eventually after seeing police, they drove to Blackburn and after an hour left him in the car, not caring if he died.

“This was an absolutely horrendous attack which left the victim seriously injured. The damage inflicted on him has been long-lasting and he continues to be affected by what happened to this day."