Kidnapped businessman freed unharmed

A businessman who was kidnapped and held to ransom for tens of thousands of pounds spoke today of his trauma after the 31–hour ordeal was finally over.

Builder Tony Pattison, 45, of Hartlepool, was snatched from the streets of his home town and held captive by an armed gang before being released near an exclusive housing development in Wynyard, Teesside.

He was released after a successful police sting in which tens of thousands of pounds were handed over.

The money was later recovered and a 42–year–old man, also from Hartlepool, was arrested last night in Stokesley, North Yorkshire.

In a statement, Mr Pattison, who is married and has a stepson in his 20s, said today: "The last 24 hours have been the worst I have known.

"My family and I have been through hell at the hands of a ruthless gang.

"I have been bound, threatened and put in fear of my life.

"I did not know what would happen to me next.

"This trauma has had an appalling effect on me and my family.

"I can only thank the police and others who have worked tirelessly to bring this nightmare to an end.

"All I hope now is that the people behind this can be brought to justice."

Cleveland Police revealed at a news conference today that Mr Pattison wassnatched from his dark–coloured Vauxhall Vectra in Seaton Carew as he ate a sandwich at about 2.20pm on Monday.

A man wrenched open his door and he was dragged from the car and bundled into a white Transit van where he was tied up as the vehicle moved off.

His abductors told him they had been following him, that they knew who he was and that he had been kidnapped.

He was kept overnight in an unknown building and then driven around for a considerable time yesterday.

Police have no descriptions of the gang but believe the kidnappers may be from Wearside.

Detective Superintendent Brian Dunn said the victim had family in the Washington area and believed the men had Wearside accents.

Mr Pattison was dumped around 9.30pm yesterday near the Samsung factory by the exclusive Wynyard estate, which was once home to Alan Shearer and Kevin Keegan.

He had been kept in a shed along a dirt track signposted to Woodside Farm.

Police have appealed for help in tracing a white Transit van, registration Y599 GFT, which may have been used in the kidnap.

Detectives were reluctant to reveal details of the sting operation but said all the cash that had been handed over was safely recovered.

They are still looking for up to three people but said Mr Pattison had not yet been able to give a description of his captors.

Mr Pattison was with his family at a safe location while he recovered from the ordeal.

His brother had received a series of five phone calls on Monday afternoon and evening from the kidnappers in which they demanded tens of thousands of pounds.

Mr Dunn said the kidnappers had made it clear that if the ransom was not paid, Mr Pattison was in "serious danger".

Police were called around 1am yesterday and a large–scale operation was mounted across the North East.

Cleveland Police requested a news blackout, stressing that lives were at risk.

Mr Dunn said the victim had suffered minor injuries, probably due to being tied up, but said earlier that Mr Pattison was mentally exhausted.

Police will continue to debrief Mr Pattison but said today they had no idea why he had been targeted by the gang.