Shocking moment man escapes being bundled into white van by savage thugs in botched kidnap attempt

THIS is the shocking moment a man escaped being bundled into a van in a botched kidnapping attempt.

The victim was shoved to the ground and punched repeatedly by the three would-be abductors.

Footage shows the violent trio attempting to manhandle him into a waiting white van in Luton, Bedfordshire.

The thugs also attempted to handcuff the victim, who could be seen desperately fighting to escape their clutches.

Dominic Croucher, Jamie Williams and Paul Morrell hatched the kidnap plot after discovering the victim had come into some money.

On September 11, he received threatening messages in a bid to intimidate him into handing over the cash.

Chillingly, the trio also watched the man and his family before two of them set fire to a fence at his home.

They also exchanged messages as they discussed the snatch plot and spoke of the "life-changing money" they would get.

But their plan was foiled when the victim managed to flee - causing the panicking thugs to escape without their handcuffs.

Police were able to trace Williams and Morrell thanks to DNA left on the cuffs.

Officers also identified Croucher as the white van driver after using CCTV and ANPR.

Phones seized from the thugs showed they had discussed how they "blazed his gaffe" in reference to setting the victim's fence alight.

Croucher, 28, of Swansea, has been jailed for eight years and three months after admitting conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to blackmail.

Williams, 40, and Morrell, 39, both of Doncaster, were sentenced to 10 years and six months after pleading guilty to the same charges.

Detective Constable Daniel Matcham, from Bedfordshire Police, said: "This was an escalating series of events where the offenders attempted to kidnap the victim by using serious violence against him and, when that didn't work, they continued their vendetta by threatening him and setting his fence and garden shed on fire."

"Their intimidating and wicked actions left the victim in fear of not only his life, but the lives of his family too."