Trio jailed for imprisoning epileptic man in shed

Three people who tortured and imprisoned an epileptic man in a garden shed in Gloucestershire, were today given a total of 29 years in jail.

Kevin Davies, 29, was repeatedly beaten, burnt and humiliated by the trio, who held the handyman hostage for four months over a minor debt they claimed he owed them.

He was found dead by paramedics at a house in Bream, Gloucestershire in the south west of England on September 26 last year.

He had been kept in the garden shed of David Lehane (aged 35), and Amanda Baggus (aged 26), both from Badgers Way, Bream.

He had been locked up since May 27.

Lehane and Baggus, along with another man Scott Andrews (aged 27), of Hathaway Close, were originally charged with murder but had the charge dramatically dropped in May after experts were unable to rule out that epilepsy could have contributed to Mr Davies' death.

During the ordeal Amanda Baggus kept a diary in which she recorded the punishments they had meted out to the vulnerable victim and scornfully noted his cries for help.

They also filmed the terrified captive in the shed, in which he was bullied into saying he was there voluntarily and was being treated well.

The three accused all pleaded guilty in May to false imprisonment and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Mr Justice Gray sentenced Lehane and Baggus to 10 years each and Andrews to nine years at Bristol Crown Court today.