Man cleared of kidnap and assault charges

One of four defendants charged in connection with a kidnapping and violent assault in East Yorkshire has been found not guilty following a trial.

Armantas Sauklys, 39, was charged with false imprisonment, conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm following an incident in Cottingham in June.

He was cleared of all charges following a seven-day trial at Hull Crown Court, which concluded on Tuesday.

Three other defendants, Toma Vitkauskaite, 26, Emilio Romano, 24, and Mohammed Hussain, 24, previously entered guilty pleas and are due to be sentenced at a later date.

Humberside Police said Sauklys had been released from custody, with no further action to be taken.

Commenting on the case, Det Con Simon Holmes, said the individuals responsible "subjected a man to a horrific level of violence and trauma in a targeted and premeditated attack that left him in a life-threatening condition".

"Despite the severity of the injuries he sustained, it is fortunate that the man was able to leave the address and, thankfully, he has since made a full recovery," he added.

Vitkauskaite, Hussain and Romano entered guilty pleas during the trial which began on 18 November last year. The trial for Sauklys was then rescheduled for 5 January.

Vitkauskaite, of Eppleworth Road in Cottingham, pleaded guilty to kidnapping on day one of the trial and admitted false imprisonment on day two.

Hussain, of Harborough Avenue in Sheffield, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault on the second day of the trial.

Romano, of Hadleigh Close in Hull, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault on day three of the trial.

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