Pair jailed for kidnap and robbery of two men in Southampton
Two men were threatened into a car in October before being forced to transfer over £3,000 in bank transfers
Two men have been jailed for a combined total of more than 15 years for the kidnap and robbery of two men in Southampton in October.
Tyrese Lee Geddes, 20, of Meadow Lane in Eastleigh, and Barry James Smith, 20, of Paignton Road in Southampton, both appeared at Southampton Crown Court in December having previously pleaded guilty to charges of kidnap and robbery.
The court heard how on Sunday 6 October 2024, a 20-year-old man and an 18-year-old man were approached by a group of men at Crosshouse Road car park at around 5.30pm. The men offered drugs to the victims and when they refused they were threatened into a vehicle by two of the group.
While in the vehicle, the two men forced the victims to send them money via bank transfers and ATM withdrawals, stealing a total of £3,770 from them during this time. The men later drove away, leaving the victims at Hoglands Park, where they called police.
An investigation was launched and Geddes and Smith were arrested and charged with robbery and two counts of kidnap.
Geddes was also charged with driving whilst disqualified and using a motor vehicle on a road/public place without third party insurance.
Both men pleaded guilty at an earlier court hearing, and Geddes has now been sentenced to ten years and four months in prison, while Smith has been sentenced to five years.
Police Staff Investigator Katie Butler of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Western Criminal Investigation Department, who led the investigation, said: “What these two young men went through at the hands of Geddes and Smith is truly despicable and what happened to them has understandably had a massive impact on their lives.
“While I know that this sentence won’t change what happened or take away from the trauma they have endured, I sincerely hope that it helps the two victims begin to move forward with their lives, safe in the knowledge that these two dangerous offenders are now behind bars.
“I want to let anyone who is thinking of committing these types of violent, intrusive and intimidating crimes in Southampton that we will not tolerate it. We will do everything in our power to identify you and arrest you, bringing you before the courts to face the consequences of your actions.
“We are working hard to ensure the streets of Southampton are a safer place for everyone, and I hope that this result today demonstrates a snapshot of how we are doing that.”