A PAIR of kidnappers who held their victim hostage in High Wycombe have had their nine-year jail sentences ruled "manifestly excessive" by appeal court judges.

Lorry driver Phillip Kaye, 38, of Prospect Place, Swindon, and Paul Genese, 41, of Pinehurst Road, Swindon, were jailed at Snaresbrook Crown Court on April 17 last year.

They were found guilty of kidnapping Asian businessman Ali Ally Baccus, formerly of Moselle Avenue, Wood Green, in a bid to recover £3,500 owed to Frank Pile, of Splashleys Farm, Leamington Spa.

Mr Pile was found not guilty of kidnap and blackmail at the original trial.

Michael Smith was also charged in connection with the kidnap, but he disappeared during the first week of the trial and remains at large, the court heard. The jury heard Mr Baccus was taken to an address in the Micklefield area. Kaye and Genese argued in the Appeal Court on May 8 that the trial should have been halted when Smith disappeared.

They also argued that the fact that Smith had fled had influenced the jury in finding them guilty.

Lord Justice Mantell, sitting in the appeal court with Mr Justice Ian Kennedy and Judge Grigson, dismissed their arguments but reduced their sentences of imprisonment from nine years to seven.

He said: "If the trial is going badly, it may suit some of the defendants to have the trial aborted.

"There might be reason to think that the same would not happen a second time.

"Quite apart from tactical manoeuvres of that kind, it may be undesirable for the trial to be re-run, as in the case where the main prosecution witness is a rape victim or a young child."

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