Trio waged a war of terror over loan

A VULNERABLE teenager was subjected to a terrifying ordeal which included being punched and hit, abducted and forcibly tied to a tree — all because he couldn’t repay a £50 loan.

Kieran Rosenthal (20), who lent him the cash, opted for drastic measures when the 17 year old was unable to repay the money with £20 interest on time, a court was told.

He confronted Stuart Ashbridge in Royton Park on the day the cash had been due — then hit him before ordering him into his car.

The frightened teenager refused and was tied to a tree with tape before eventually managing to escape.

Rosenthal’s black Vauxhall Corsa was later seen near the youngster’s Oldham home and threats were made against him to his mother.

The following day, the 17-year old was again confronted in the park, where he was punched in the ribs, before being told he had to “rob” a mobile phone to settle his debt. He again managed to escape.

Ten days later Rosenthal and two others spotted him in Royton and ordered him into their vehicle.

He was told they had chains, machetes and hammers in the boot, and they told him he had to rob a betting shop to get them cash, which he refused to do.

Kate Hammond, prosecuting, told Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court Mr Ashbridge was elbowed and hit in the head as the car set off.

The terrified youngster’s nightmare ended when police, who had been alerted to the suspicious events, managed to contact one of the other teenagers in the car, 19-year old Nathan Batey, on his mobile phone.

The car returned to Oldham, where the victim was warned to say nothing to the police or he would be stabbed.

Rosenthal, of Whetstone Hill Road, Oldham, Batey of Roy Street, Royton, and a third man, 20 year old Stephen Kremner, of Lodge Lane, Delph, all pleaded guilty to harassment.

Sentencing them, judge Timothy Mort told them: “Gangsterism is too glamorous a word for what was brutal and bullying behaviour. It was a thoroughly unpleasant way of trying to force repayment of a debt owed, and very frightening for the young lad in question.”

Rosenthal and Kremner were both sentenced to nine months at a young offenders’ institution, and Batey six months, all sentences suspended for 18 months because the defendants came from good homes and didn’t have criminal records. The three were also ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid community work.