Duo who tortured a man for two days are jailed

TWO men who kidnapped another man and tortured him for two days have been jailed.

Mark Douglas, 34, and Peter Welsh, 48, “blow-torched” John Alcroft’s face with a lit deodorant spray because he owed them money. The pair also electrocuted him, threw chemicals over him and poured soap powder into a stab wound.

On an earlier occasion, they also threw Mr Alcroft from a second storey window at an address in Ardrossan, Ayrshire, fracturing three of his ribs and breaking his heel.

When they finished assaulting Mr Alcroft, the two men took £480 from his wallet before repeatedly punching and kicking him.

Yesterday, at the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Bannatyne jailed Douglas for seven and half years and ordered that he be supervised by the authorities for a period of four and a half years.

Welsh was jailed for four years. He will also be supervised by the authorities for a period of two years following his release.

Passing sentence, Lord Bannatyne said the imposition of a lengthy custodial term was the only appropriate way to deal with the pair. He added: “This was a vicious sustained and significant attack which must have been terrifying for your victim.”

Douglas and Welsh, both prisoners of HMP Kilmarnock, pleaded guilty to abduction and serious assault charges at a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow last month. Sentence had been deferred to the High Court in Edinburgh.