Woman praised for "courageous" bid to foil Oswestry kidnap plot
It was just a normal Friday afternoon.
But things were about to take a dramatic turn in Oswestry town centre at about 4pm on March 4 last year.
A gang of men – who were later caged for more than 17 years – tried to bundle a woman and her three children into a car before speeding off.
Three men, Mohammed Anser Khan, of Whitehall Road, Tipton, Muserat Khan, of Greets Green Road, West Bromwich, and Ateek Khan, of Oak Road, West Bromwich, all admitted conspiracy to kidnapping at Shrewsbury Crown Court in August.
Police officers described the incident as “completely unjustified and terrifying” for the woman and children.
But the men were captured thanks in part to the brave role played by a passer-by, who has now been awarded a High Sheriff’s Award.
Loraine Duncan, 50, used her car as a blockade to the getaway car.
Although the victims, who have not been named due to legal reasons, were forced into a second vehicle outside Griffin Courtyard in Leg Street, Oswestry, Judge Peter Barrie said on Wednesday during the award presentation the role of Mrs Duncan was central to delaying the gang and allowing police to be “on their tail”.
The vehicle was driven off before later being stopped by officers in Shrewsbury.
Detective Sergeant Lee Holehouse from West Mercia Police said: "This case involved the kidnap of a woman and three children by a group of people who clearly had no regard for their welfare or the law.
"This was a completely unjustified, terrifying incident for them.”
Mrs Duncan, of Llanforda Rise in the town, was presented with a certificate and £250 for her brave role in the incident by the High Sheriff of Shropshire, Christine Holmes.
Mrs Holmes said: “It was an extremely brave act.
"It is so nice for people to stand up for the community and that is what she did. She did not pass by.
"She says she is not very brave but she is. You would know when you are putting yourself in danger but she knew it was the right thing to do and she did it and that is fantastic.
"I am incredibly proud to recognise what she has done. I hope she realises how much we appreciate it. If it encourages others to do the same then great."
Mohammed Khan was sentenced to six years in prison for his role in the conspiracy, Muserat Khan got five years and nine months, and Ateek Khan was handed a five-and-a-half year sentence.
Judge Barrie, during the presentation of the High Sheriff’s Award, praised the courage shown by Mrs Duncan.
He said: “It was just after school picking up time and Oswestry town centre was fairly busy when something happened. It was really completely unexpected for everybody going about their daily business which included you driving along in your car.
“One of them was armed with a metal bar. There was a great deal of shouting and threatening behaviour. You drove past and saw this was happening and you parked your car so it blocked in one of the cars they were trying to use to load up the lady and her children to drive them away.
“That only made them more cross. I know there was really quite an ordeal going on and they were threatening you.
“You stood firm and you are to be congratulated as you were directly preventing a very serious abduction from taking place. This award is to recognise the courage in doing that.
“You also receive the award for all the people in Oswestry about the place that day. They were encouraging you to stand up to those threats.
“They did manage to make a getaway but your disruption was crucial to what happened then. There had been people making 999 calls and the delay was what enabled police to be on their tail.
“The police were able to stop the car, rescue the family and see no further harm was done.
“The part you played stood out when I was hearing about these events. You are to be congratulated for being a good citizen. It is not something any of us can plan to do so we are here to say thank you and well done.
“I hope in accepting this award you accept it recognising everybody else who played a part that afternoon.”
