Kidnap plot saw Northampton pair stake out vicitm's house in bid to force him into boot of car

A spurned Northampton man who plotted to kidnap the partner of a woman who broke off an affair with him has been jailed.

Adam Cresswell, who lived in Northampton but has since moved to Agricola Place, Enfield, staked out his target's house with the intention of abducting him as he left for work.

The plan even saw the 31-year-old put tape over the sensor on a motion-detection light so it would still be dark at the moment he attacked his victim.

Then, along with his accomplice - Dion Greaves, 25, Harrison Road, Northampton - he planned to bundle his target into the boot of his own car, take his keys and drive him away.

Her Honour Judge Rebecca Crane said at the pair's sentencing at Northampton Crown Court yesterday (January 12): "This must have been a truly terrifying incident."

The court heard how Cresswell had once been friends with his eventual victim, but at some point began an affair with his partner.

She reportedly brought the relationship to an end six months before the attack in December 2018, with the husband telling Cresswell he wanted nothing to do with him ever again.

Later that year, Cresswell enlisted Greaves in a plan to take his revenge.

The pair arrived outside the man's house in the early hours of the morning while it was still dark.

They placed tape over the motion sensor light so it would not light up at the moment they attacked.

Then, they waited for their target to leave his home to go to work.

Prosecutor Tony Stanford told the court: "At 6am, [the victim] left his house opened the passenger door of his BMW.

"He became aware of a noise behind him - and he was then grabbed around the nose and mouth.

"He was punched several times in the side and face by Greaves, and he heard Cresswell shouting repeatedly 'get his keys, get his keys'."

At that point, the pair tried to force their victim into the boot of the BMW - except the man managed to wrestle out of their grip and bang on the front door of the house.

This alerted his partner inside, who opened to door and witnessed the scene before her. The pair fled almost immediately with the victim's car keys.

The police were called immediately. Because the couple knew Cresswell, they were able to give the call handlers his registration number.

Less than half an hour later, officers identified Cresswell's car, still accompanied by Greaves. In the car were their victim's carkeys, as well as a fob he needed for work that they also stole.

Cresswell later denied he had ever been at the scene.

Both men eventually pleaded guilty to kidnap and robbery - although Cresswell only admitted the crime on the day his trial was set to start.

Greaves was enlisted on the promise he would be rewarded with the BMW, which he planned to use to buy cocaine.

In court, Judge Crane said: "Your victim has spoken of the shock and pain of the act. It continues to affect him. It has made him anxious and he has trouble sleeping."

Cresswell was jailed for three years and nine months. Greaves was sentenced to three years and one month.