Men jailed for stripping kidnap victim and forcing him to sing Whitney Houston songs

Pair also held knife to stomach of man's heavily pregnant girlfriend in dispute over drugs

Sakhawat Hussain and Andre Clarke used axes, a baseball bat, a hammer and a knife to inflict serious injuries on victim (SWNS)

Two men who carried out a “humiliating” attack on a kidnap victim who was forced to strip naked and perform Whitney Houston songs have been jailed.

Sakhawat Hussain, 35, and Andre Clarke, 30, also poured boiling water over the man's genitals and held a knife to the stomach of his heavily pregnant girlfriend.

The pair, who carried out the attack following a dispute over drugs, held their 32-year-old victim prisoner and used axes, a baseball bat, a hammer and a knife to inflict serious injuries upon him.

Leeds Crown Court heard that the man was later treated for a catalogue of injuries, including broken bones, significant bruising, and reddening on his legs, buttocks and genitals.

Following a five-week trial, a jury convicted Mr Hussain, of Hawthorne Avenue, Batley, and Mr Clarke of Wood Lane, Newsome, Huddersfield, of affray, kidnapping, causing grievous bodily harm with intent and two counts of false imprisonment.

Jailing them for 15 years each on Tuesday, Judge Robin Mairs described the incident as leaving “lasting scars” on the victim.

He added: “The two of you were content to use violence as a form of control. Threats and coercion were used to engender obedience.

“You had no compunction to inflicting fear and terror upon the victim and his wider family.

“Physically and mentally, there is no question that this sustained and vicious attack left scars on him and will leave lasting scars upon him.”

Prosecutors said the defendants first visited the man at his home in Healey, Batley, on 23 January following a dispute over 2.2lb (1kg) of cocaine.

A packed public gallery heard that Mr Clarke, described by his barrister as having a “short-lived” career in football, told the victim's pregnant girlfriend he would “cut it out” if they were not given drugs.

The court was told that the woman gave birth just eight days after the incident.

The pair returned to the property just three days later, with father-of-five Mr Hussain blaming the man for the alleged theft of £300,000 of drugs.

Three members of the man's family, including his young son, were then held captive in his home, with the victim himself being taken to his cellar and beaten for several hours.

He was then bundled into a car and driven to a flat in Batley Carr in Dewsbury, where he was stripped naked and boiling water poured on his genitals.

While at the property, Mr Hussain and Mr Clarke forced the victim to sing and dance to Whitney Houston songs “for their own amusement”.

The judge described the attack as both “degrading” and “humiliating”.

The court heard that the victim only escaped at around 4am the morning after the attack, which took place on 26 January, and has not been able to return home since.

Detective Inspector Mark Catney, of West Yorkshire police, said after the sentencing: “These individuals are involved in the depths of criminality and we welcome the sentences which have been passed down today at court.

“I would like to praise my team, who have tirelessly worked on this investigation to uncover the series of events which took place.

“Their dedication and commitment has resulted in Hussain and Clarke being successfully convicted of abhorrent and violent crimes.”

PA