A MAN was kidnapped, beaten and abandoned in a country lane without any clothes on in a feud over a pair of stolen motocross bikes.

Dale Miles was bundled into the back of a van in his boxer shorts sometime after 11pm on January 11 this year after he was suspected of being involved in a burglary, during which motocross bikes belonging to the Barfoot family were taken.

The victim denied taking the bikes.

However, a group of people who decided to "take the law into their own hands" visited the home Mr Miles shared with his girlfriend as part of a bid to find out where the vehicles were, a court heard.

Prosecuting the case at Bournemouth Crown Court on Thursday, June 16, Stuart Ellacott said the "sorry saga" began when eight people travelled to the property in Gillingham.

Three went to the back of the property, climbing over a fence before banging on the door.

Mr Miles' girlfriend, who was concerned about the damage to the house, opened the door, and the men pushed past her into the house.

Four others were then let in through the front door, while one remained outside.

"Mr Miles came downstairs wearing his boxer shorts and was confronted by the males.

"He armed himself with a knife from the kitchen," Mr Ellacott said.

However, he was quickly overpowered and assaulted before being "frog-marched" out of the property and into the back of the van.

Asked where the motorcycles were, Mr Miles gave an address in Templecombe, Somerset.

A family living at the property were then awoken and their home searched by members of the group.

Despite this, the bikes were not found.

Finally, the victim was driven to Silton, a small village four miles northwest of Gillingham, and "abandoned" in a quiet country lane.

His boxer shorts were ripped off as he was pushed from the back of the van.

"Mr Miles was able to go to a local property where residents raised the alarm," Mr Ellacott said.

The victim suffered bruising and abrasions during his ordeal.

The court heard that during interviews with police, Stuart Barfoot, who admitted kidnap, said: "We were always maybe going to give him a slap."

However, he told officers: "[It was] just to scare him."

Maisie Bent, 19, of St George's Road in Shaftesbury, was sentenced to a community order with 150 hours of unpaid work, as well as a 20-day rehabilitation requirement.

Lauren Newton, 20, of Court Cottages, Buckhorn Weston, was sentenced to a community order with 180 hours of unpaid work and a 20-day rehabilitation requirement.

Lewis Barfoot, 26, of Culzean Barn, Buckhorn Weston, was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for two years.

All admitted affray.

Stuart Barfoot, 26, of Culzean Bungalow, Buckhorn Weston, was sentenced to 15 months in prison suspended for two years after pleading guilty to kidnap.

Karl Newton, 23, of Court Cottages, Buckhorn Weston, was the "key player", a judge said.

He was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after admitting kidnap and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Benjamin Hannam, 27, of Weston Street, Gillingham, was sentenced to 15 months in prison after admitting kidnap.

Frederick Wadsworth, 23, of Woodhayes, Henstridge, also pleaded guilty to kidnap and was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for two years.

Bruce Newton, 27, of Woodhayes, Henstridge, was sentenced to 15 months in prison suspended for two years after admitting kidnap.

Judge Peter Johnson said it was "within contemplation" that Mr Miles would have been physically harmed when the group went to his home.

"I accept matters escalated rapidly," he said.

"This is an extremely unusual case."