Four men have been jailed after student kidnapping Credit - Nottinghamshire Police

Four men have been jailed after a Nottingham student was dragged into an alley, robbed, and held for 40 minutes.

The attack happened in the early hours of April 18 2023, when the student was walking home along Wellington Street.

The attackers have now been sentenced following the 40-minute ordeal, which left the 19-year-old victim “shaken”.

Three masked men grabbed him, forced him into a gated alley, and demanded access to his mobile phone.

They then transferred £1,539.63 from his bank account before fleeing the scene.

Investigators used CCTV from nearby businesses and other evidence to identify the suspects. They were tracked to an eatery in Hockley, where one of them made a purchase with a bank card.

Among them was Oliver Sapounov, a 22-year-old company director, along with Aqeel Hussain, Sefa Duzgan, and Adeel Din, who were all later arrested.

In court, the men received the following sentences:

  • Oliver Sapounov: six years for kidnapping, false imprisonment, robbery, and money laundering.

Oliver Sapounov, 23, of Huntingdon Street, Nottingham
Credit – Nottinghamshire Police

  • Aqeel Hussain and Sefa Duzgan: five years and three months each for kidnap, false imprisonment, and robbery.

Aqeel Hussain, aged 23, of Avebury Avenue, Luton
Credit – Nottinghamshire Police
Sefa Duzgun, aged 22, of Hazellville Road, Islington, London
Credit – Nottinghamshire Police

  • Adeel Din: 18 months for money laundering.

Adeel Din, aged 23, of Manton Drive, Luton
Credit – Nottinghamshire Police

The student’s impact statement highlighted the lasting emotional toll.

He told the court he still feels anxious walking alone and described the fear he experienced as “being at their mercy,” adding that the trauma has not faded.

He said: “I truly believe they have no idea of the impact that their actions have had on me. The defendants attacked me from behind, they took away my liberty by taking me off the street against my will.

“Like a prisoner, they held me against my will and then stole my mobile and money. Throughout the whole incident I was put in fear as they had face coverings, and I genuinely felt at their mercy as I thought I would get physically hurt had I tried to struggle or not have property they could steal.

“I still feel very uncomfortable walking home alone and I am wary who is around me at night. These feelings do not go away and this is all because of the actions of the defendants.”

Judge Michael Auty KC described the attack as “meticulously planned” and noted the defendants intended to instil fear in their victim.

“He was inevitably terrified and he preferred, no doubt wisely, compliance – having discovered just how far his three attackers were prepared to go.

“The reality is when faced with three disguised men prepared as they were and issuing threats, in those circumstances only a fool would have resisted,” he said.

Nottinghamshire Police praised the student’s bravery in coming forward and the effectiveness of the investigation.