Kidnap suspect murdered

A man wanted by police in connection with the kidnap of a Rochdale man has been found murdered.

Police were hunting Jason Martin, 39, since Paul Brady, 44, was ambushed by a large gang of men in Bacup on 1 August and bundled into the back of one of their cars.

Now they believe that Mr Martin, from Oldham, died after he was assaulted in Ireland at the weekend.

Police are hopeful that Mr Brady is still alive and that they can get him released from his captors.

Lancashire Police are now waiting for formal confirmation that the murder victim is the man they wanted to speak to about Paul Brady's kidnap.

The man leading the investigation into the kidnap, Detective Supt Neil Hunter, said: "Jason Martin is somebody we have been actively looking for since Paul was kidnapped and we have been making inquiries with our colleagues in a number of European countries in a bid to trace him.

"The information we have received from our colleagues in Ireland, however, has led us to believe that Mr Martin was the victim of a murder over the weekend.

"I would appeal for anyone who knows where Mr Martin has been since this offence was committed or has any information to get in touch with us."

At the time of the kidnap Mr Brady was a site manager of an exclusive housing development at Lynn's Court. Mr Brady had travelled to the site to do some work on one of the houses with a friend.

As they left the development they were travelling along Beaufort Road in two separate vehicles, Mr Brady was driving a white Ford Connect van registration no. ML04VCE and his friend was driving a silver Mercedes 190 registration no. S291CGR. Whilst on Beaufort Road their vehicles were boxed in by the kidnappers' vehicles.

There were as many as 8-10 kidnappers who are believed to have arrived in a white Ford Galaxy reg no. PF05BXP and a silver Citroen Berlingo. They were all wearing balaclava masks and carrying weapons.

They dragged Mr Brady from his vehicle and assaulted him before forcing him into one of their vehicles before making from the scene at high speed. They also tried to kidnap his friend but fortunately he managed to get away.

The kidnappers made off from the scene in at least four vehicles which included stealing the two vehicles belonging to Mr Brady and his friend together with the Ford Galaxy and the Citroen Berlingo.

At 2.40pm that afternoon the van belonging to Mr Brady and the Mercedes were found abandoned at a lay-by off the Burnley Road East at Crown Point near Burnley close to the eco-trail leading to Clough Bottom reservoir.

Police are appealing for anyone with information to contact Burnley Police Station on 08451 25 35 45 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.