Appeal following abduction

Detectives have released CCTV images of a man they want to speak to in connection with the offence

Police are appealing for information after two men were abducted and driven around Rochdale, Haslingden and Blackburn.

The incident happened on Friday 2 December 2011 and detectives have released CCTV images of a man they want to speak to in connection with the offence.

The victims, who are 19 and 20 years of age, were parked up in a ‘T’ reg silver Honda Accord on Sandwich Close in Blackburn at around 9.00pm when they were attacked and subject to a two hour ordeal.

The men were sat in their car when two men in a blue Ford Focus pulled up beside them and approached their car. At the same time, a silver Vauxhall Meriva drove up beside the Honda and a further two men approached the car, one of whom was wearing what appeared to be a police stab vest and they dragged the two victims out of their car, handcuffed them and bundled them into the Meriva.

It is believed the victims were driven around the Blackburn, Haslingden and Rochdale areas for a period of around two hours during which they were assaulted a number of times before being brought back to Blackburn.

At around 11.00pm, the two men were released from the Meriva on Shadsworth Road at the junction with Old Bank Lane and police are appealing for anyone with any information to come forward.

The investigation has been continuing over the past month with hours of CCTV footage being checked and officers carrying out door to door enquiries.

Detective Sergeant Simon Upton said: “Our investigation into what happened is ongoing and we have been able to find some very good CCTV images of a man we want to speak to in connection with this incident.

“I believe the people responsible could be in the Manchester area or even East Lancashire and I would ask the public to have a look at these pictures and if they recognise the man in the images then they should contact us.

“We are still working closely with the victims who are recovering from their injuries and ordeal.”

Anyone with any information can be passed to police on 08451 25 35 45 and quote log LC-20120105-0824 or alternatively, people can call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.