A TEAM of officers and detectives have received commendations for tackling a case of assault and kidnapping.

On December 19 last year a man informed the helpdesk at Crewe that he had been forced to hire a vehicle, which he believed was to be used to deal drugs.

Later the same day a witness reported having seen a man being forced into the boot of the same vehicle.

Shortly afterwards a 999 call was received from a man stating that he had been kidnapped and was trapped in a car boot.

He informed the operator that the offenders had a knife.

The incidents were linked by Julia Dowle and the vehicle’s description circulated.

The man who had made the emergency call later made his way to hospital and was treated for stab wounds.

Meanwhile the car had crashed on Merseyside. Two men were arrested and a third, who had stab wounds, was discovered in the boot.

This was not the same man involved in the previous incident.

When questioned by officers, both men who had been stabbed refused to name their attackers.

DS Andy McGillan worked tirelessly to ensure that all scenes were identified and evidence gathered.

DS Robert Balfour, DC Stuart Williams and trainee investigator Lucy Worthington also supported the investigation.

Thorough attention to detail established the sequence of events.

Forensic examination placed both victims and one of the offenders in the vehicle.

In May both suspects pleaded guilty to a series of offences and were sentenced to a total of nine years and six months imprisonment.