A veteran was jailed for kidnapping after tying a man to a sign and writing ‘THIEF’ on him.
The judge described the act as “vigilantism” and “degrading”, calling the veteran “a bully.” The veteran had previously served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Nicholls, age 40, acted with an accomplice. They videoed the victim and forced him to say he was not kidnapped.
They removed his shirt and used tie wraps to bind him. Then they wrote “THIEF” on his chest and forehead. They instructed him to say it was a “stag do” if questioned.
Nicholls admitted to kidnapping the man on October 28 near a bar in Cleethorpes on Wardall Street. The incident stemmed from the theft of an electric bike on October 26 from Sea View Street. Nicholls had posted about its disappearance online.
He solicited information and threatened to “snap their arms”. On October 28, they went to a man’s house and checked his garage, but the man ran away. It later turned out that the victim wasn’t the Facebook suspect.
They caught him and took him to Sea View Street. They bought a marker, threatened the man, and forced him to comply. He had to state in a video he was not kidnapped.
They tied him to a sign with his hands bound. Someone wrote “THIEF” on him and warned him against escaping, threatening to break his legs. He was tied up for 30 minutes while people walking past laughed, thinking it was a joke.
A passer-by helped him escape. Police investigated and CCTV identified Nicholls. Police instructed him to turn himself in, but he said he would not respond. Nicholls was later arrested and remained silent during questioning.
The victim now lives in fear. He moved in with a friend, worried his friend would be harmed.
His lawyer mentioned his PTSD. Fellow veterans supported him, describing his case of “severe” PTSD. He had an honorable discharge in 2005 and was experiencing “maladjusted coping” after losing a friend, as well as flashbacks, according to his lawyer.
He served six years in Iraq and Afghanistan. The lawyer argued the kidnap was not complex, lasted around 35 minutes, and resulted in no injury. The lawyer stated that the writing washed off easily, and people testified to Nicholls’ kindness and helpfulness.
The judge acknowledged the act as humiliating vigilantism and Nicholls as a bully, while considering his service record. The judge reiterated that Nicholls taking matters into his own hands was unacceptable.
Although he didn’t see how PTSD was relevant and perceived no remorse, he deemed it an appalling act and that he acted like a bully, having no right to act that way. The judge sentenced Nicholls to 32 months in jail.