Men jailed after subjecting victim to hours of violence and threats in the Forest of Dean
Joshua Rice, aged 38, and 44-year-old Andrew Rowbotham threatened to hurt the victim's family
Two men from the Forest of Dean have been jailed for torturing a man over a six-hour period, after falsely accusing him of stealing their money.
Joshua Rice, aged 38, and 44-year-old Andrew Rowbotham subjected the victim, who is in his 20s, to physical and psychological torture during the incident in July last year (2025).
Gloucester Crown Court heard how the victim was initially met Rice and Rowbotham through a mutual acquaintance in June 2025 and had felt 'cuckooed' by the pair, who frequently came to his house and asked him to store an unknown quantity of cash.
On 29th July 2025, Rice, of Coalway Road, Coleford, and Rowbotham, of no fixed abode, accused the victim of taking cash they had given him and "ransacked" his home before forcing him to drive them to Rice's residence in Coleford.
The victim was then told to drive the men home.
Stopping on the way, Rice and Rowbotham forced the victim to get into the front passenger seat of the car, punching him repeatedly and threatening him with violence involving a hockey stick and a knife.
He was also made to reveal the names of his female relatives, followed by threats to rape and kill them if he reported the incident to the police.
The court heard how later that afternoon Rice and Rowbotham gagged, blindfolded, and zip-tied the victim placing him in a hole in the ground at a Forest of Dean picnic area with a sheet plastic sheet over his body and face.
The victim described it as like "being in a body bag."
The pair made further threats to kill him and held something against his head, the victim described being petrified,
The victim was eventually released and informed that he would be under watch, with instructions to shower and clean his car to eliminate any evidence.
A relative of the victim reported the incident to the police, leading to the arrest of Rice and Rowbotham on suspicion of kidnap.
Police investigations found weapons, described by the victim at Rice's home and plastic sheeting, and zip-ties at the location in the Forest of Dean.
In police interview, both men initially denied the offence and were charged and taken into custody.
They both later pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and making threats to kill.
In a statement which was read to the court, the victim described how Rice and Rowbotham's actions that day have affected him.
He said: "I've struggled to sleep, having flashbacks during the day as well as at night; of them shouting at me, hitting me and especially of being in that bag – for what was probably five to ten minutes but felt like a lifetime as they talked about killing me.
"I really thought that was it for me, and I said my goodbyes, apologising to my family for somehow having ended up in that situation.
"They might not have murdered me, even though I could feel their threats were real enough, but due to the incident, I've sometimes felt so low I've wanted to take my own life.
"My home, my friendships, my sense of security and my self-esteem – they've taken away so much, I sometimes feel they did actually kill me."
Recorder Mawhinney sentenced Rice to four years and four months in prison, while Rowbotham received three years and seven months after the judge noted how he had shown some remorse and had "from time to time" tried to discourage Rice from his actions that day.
Each was given a five-year restraining order and ordered to pay the victim £228 in costs.
Following sentencing, investigating officer Detective Constable Annabel Brittain said: "Assaulting, threatening and then terrifying the victim by tying him up, wrapping him in plastic sheeting and putting him in a hole in the ground deep in the forest is the stuff of nightmares.
"The victim went through a horrendous ordeal over a long period, and while it is fortunate he did not suffer more serious physical injuries, the psychological impact of the abuse to which he was subjected must inevitably be significant and enduring.
"His and the other witnesses' strength and bravery in standing up to these criminals and then supporting the investigation and prosecution is totally commendable.
"I have no doubt that in doing so, the victim and his family have commendably helped prevent further criminality and others' suffering."