Man charged with murder following kidnap

Police charged a man with murder following the kidnap of Rochdale man Paul Brady in Bacup.

Paul Devalda, 34, from Burnley, was originally charged with conspiracy to kidnap but following consultation between police and CPS, a decision was made to charge him with murder.

He appeared before Hyndburn Magistrates Court on Friday (20 November) via video link and has been remanded in custody until this Friday (27 November) when he will appear before Preston Crown Court.

Paul Brady, 44, of Rochdale was kidnapped from the Beaufort Road area of Weir, Bacup on Saturday 1 August. Police were alerted to the incident at 2.10pm following a call from a member of the public.

The whereabouts of Mr Brady is still unknown and a major police investigation continues. However, following extensive inquiries to try and establish where he may be, detectives now believe he may no longer be alive.

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 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.