Teenagers kidnapped boy in Bangor following ‘unpaid debts’ row

Ben Davies, 18, of Ty Newydd Farm, Llangoed, Beaumaris; Connor Lines, 18, of Ffordd Cynan, Penrhosgarnedd; and Kymani Jones, 19, of Dol Eilian, Llanberis were all sentenced to two-and-half years’ detention at Caernarfon Crown Court today (June 22).

A 17-year-old, who cannot be named, was sentenced to 22 months’ detention.

All four defendants were also handed indefinite restraining orders preventing them from contacting the victim, who also cannot be named.

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Prosecuting, Siôn ap Mihangel told the court that, on April 5, 2022, the victim received a phone call from a friend asking him if he’d like to join him to play football in Menai Bridge.

He was dropped off by his father at another friend’s house before making his way on foot to play football.

As the victim entered an alleyway, he saw Lines and the 17-year-old; while Davies was stood behind them.

Ben Davies (Image: North Wales Police)

The victim was asked: “Do you think you can take the p*** out of us? Do you think I’m a joke? You’re not leaving; you’re coming to Bangor with us.”

He was then pushed back up the alleyway, with Lines heard to have said: “We’ve got him. He’s going nowhere.”

They walked some distance with the victim, who tried unsuccessfully to pull free from being taken against his will.

Lines then slapped him with force to his face, before he was moved into the rear passenger seat of Davies’ car.

Davies drove away with Lines, the 17-year-old and the victim in the car with him.

The victim was later pulled out of the car, punched and slapped to face, and told he’d been “taking the p***”.

Davies and Lines searched the victim’s pockets, and from them took hold of £5 in loose change and his phone.

After being forced to the floor, he was repeatedly punched and shouted, before being forced back into the rear of the car.

Once in the car again, the victim was told he was going to be taken to “say sorry” to Jones.

Kymani Jones (Image: North Wales Police)

After parking near Bangor railway station, the victim was told to get out of the car, before being led to Jones’ property and into his bedroom.

Jones was found sat on his bed, next to a large knife, with what appeared to be a handgun in one of his drawers; two other individuals were also in the room.

The victim was pushed to his knees and ordered to kiss Jones’ feet, before the knife was pointed into his face.

He then kissed Jones’ shoes, before Jones kicked him to the face, and made him apologise for the “hassle he caused”, before telling him to “f*** off”.

After being let free from the property, the victim ran directly to the railway station, asking his father to collect him; when he did, he told him what had happened.

The victim said that this had stemmed from an incident with Jones dating back to 2021, when he had agreed to sell Jones a “gaming wheel”.

Jones had told the victim he would pay for it in small, daily amounts of cannabis, only to later tell the victim that he had owed him £350 for drugs.

If the victim did not pay him this money, Jones threatened to cause damage to his house and to stab his dogs.

The victim was later told that his debt had grown to £1,500, which he was given three months to repay.

After police were made aware of the matter, Jones was arrested, and small bag of cocaine, two scales, “snap bags”, and a knife were seized.

Lines, Davies and the 17-year-old were later arrested after their involvement became apparent through analysis of data from seized mobile phones.

Connor Lines (Image: North Wales Police)

All four defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges, and were said to be of previous good character.

In a statement, the victim said the incident “changed my life forever”, and that he became a “total recluse” as a consequence.

He suffered sleeping difficulties, felt unable to eat, and attempted suicide on two occasions, leading him to be hospitalised.

“There is no shred of doubt in my mind that these people will kill me one day,” he said.

Each of the four barristers representing the defendants invited the court to consider suspending their respective custodial sentences.

Dafydd Roberts, defending Davies, said his client is “appalled” by his behaviour, and has “genuine” remorse.

Since the incident, he has found employment and an apprenticeship, and has a “great opportunity” to pursue and develop a career.

Simon Rogers, representing Lines, said his offending was “out of character”, and that he behaved in a way he had “never done before” and has “never done since”.

Though Mr Rogers accepted his client showed a “real lack of maturity”, he deemed him to have a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

Richard Edwards, defending Jones, said he also has “low maturity”, but has been “making attempts to rehabilitate himself”.

“He has no excuse or justification for his actions when the victim arrived at his house,” Mr Edwards said.

Jones no longer uses cannabis, has found employment, wants to join the Army, and was said to be “trying to move on with his life”.

Defending the 17-year-old, Anna Price said he has suffered from both substance and familial issues and was “sofa-surfing” at the time.

But he has taken “positive steps” to address his drug intake, she said, has cut ties with his co-defendants, and was said to be “not yet at the point of last resort”.

Presiding over the case, Judge Timothy Petts also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of all phones, drugs and paraphernalia seized.

Judge Petts told Jones: “It seems you wanted to teach him a lesson for what you saw as the inconvenience he caused you.”

He told the other three defendants: “All three of you, in my book, clearly knew what Kymani wanted to happen. All three of you played, I think, an equal role.”

Addressing all four defendants, he added: “This isn’t a case of high spirits, or young lads mucking around.

“This is a serious case of group violence by young men that has its background linked to criminal activity.

“What has happened here has been the most traumatic event, putting anything else he may have previously been suffering from into the shade.”