Man who kidnapped stranger at gunpoint jailed

A man who kidnapped a stranger and threatened to cut his fingers off has been jailed - after a blow torch, handwritten kidnap list and zip ties were found in his home.

Claude Bond, 32, approached the victim - man in his 20s - on Hatherley Road, Gloucester at about 18:40 GMT on 11 December 2025 before he pushed an airsoft pistol into his back and escorted him to an address on Hanman Road where he was held captive for three hours.

The reason for the kidnap was suggested to be related to a drug dispute between Bond and a relative of the victim.

Bond admitted the offence on 22 June and was jailed for four-and-a-half years at Gloucester Crown Court earlier.

He was also told he must serve two thirds of his sentence before he can be released on licence, and was given a 12-year restraining order against the victim.

The court heard Bond took the victim to his home address and used cable ties to secure his wrists together before repeatedly threatening to injure and kill him, including by blasting his head off and cutting his fingers off.

In addition to the firearm, the victim saw knives, a blow torch, tweezers, bleach and a large sheet with tape on it at Bond's house.

Bond demanded £250,000 from a relative of the victim for his safe release.

However, no money was sent and the victim was later released.

The victim initially refused to provide Gloucestershire Police with a full statement after he was released over fear of repercussions, despite having no involvement in criminality and no knowledge of who Bond was.

Officers arrested Bond at his home on 13 December and seized an empty Beratta gun case, zip ties, a blow torch, a canister and a handwritten kidnap list.

The weapon - which the victim believed was a genuine firearm - was not located at the address.

In a written statement read out in court, the victim said he thought he was going to die in the unprovoked attack and had made peace with it.

He added that it had impacted his ability to sleep and he would carry memories of the incident for the rest of his life.

During sentencing, Judge Rupert Lowe said to Bond: "You somehow decided you would kidnap [the victim] off the street and you went and laid in wait for him with a gun.

"He didn't know who you were, he had no idea, and then you demanded money and walked him at gunpoint down a number of roads."

Det Con Niall Carter, from Gloucestershire Police, said Bond had "shown no remorse whatsoever" for the incident.

"I would like to thank the victim for his steadfastness and courage shown throughout this investigation.

"His continued support and engagement has been invaluable in helping officers establish the circumstances of what happened.

"Such violent and serious offending will not be tolerated in Gloucestershire, and we will always work to identify those responsible and bring them to justice," Carter added.

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