FOUR teenagers kidnapped a youth in Maldon before brutally assaulting him and dumping him in a country lane, a court heard.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard how the four allegedly dragged him from a caravan in Station Road over a drugs debt before stabbing him, punching him with knuckle dusters and breaking his leg.

The victim, 17, was found in Hurrells Lane, Little Baddow, at 12.30am on Sunday, March 27 - 50 minutes after his alleged kidnapping.

The four defendants deny kidnapping, GBH, and seven counts of possession of an offensive weapon between them.

At the court on Monday, Shanda McAteer, prosecuting, said each of the defendants “played their part” in the kidnapping and assault of the teenager.

She said: “The victim has admitted he is a drug user and bought drugs from Tanner Bailey, and had amassed a debt and owed them about £2,000.

"The way they allowed him to deal with the debt was by inflicting acts of violence on him and humiliating him.

"They whipped him with bamboo canes and forced him to drink a glass of water with cigarette butts and cocaine in it.

“On March 26 the boy was staying in a caravan with a friend on Station Road, Maldon, when after 11pm there was a knock on the door.

“When he opened it, Jimmy Millard and the 16-year-old pushed their way into the caravan. He was pulled out of the caravan and to a silver car parked nearby.

“The victim was put in the back seat, and when the others got in the car, they began punching and stabbing him with knuckle dusters and knifes before they drove off.

“The victim was repeated assaulted during the journey. When the car reached Hurrell’s Lane, he was dragged out onto the ground where they continued to punch and stab at him.

“When he was on the ground, one of the defendants retrieved a metal pole from the car and hit one of his legs, where he said he felt it snap. He was left lying on the road.”

Ms McAteer concluded to the jury: “Over the course of this trial you will see that each member played their part in the kidnapping and vicious assault with intent of injuring the teenager. You do not hit someone with knuckledusters and metal poles unless you want to cause serious harm.”

The four defendants deny kidnapping and GBH against the victim.

Tanner Bailey, 19, of The Chase, Boreham, also denies possessing a knife and a knuckle duster, while Jimmy Millard, 18, of Ashcroft Close, Reading, denies possessing a knuckle duster.

Two other teens, aged 15 and 16, both also deny possessing a knife and a knuckle duster.

The trial continues.