A man endured sexual abuse and brutal torture, including being attacked with a meat tenderiser, by a gang that executed a terrifying assault reminiscent of a Stephen King novel. The victim, left traumatized, was also subjected to burning and waterboarding during a six-day ordeal while being held captive in a residence on Orchard Street in Huddersfield on July 10, 2024.
Three members of the gang have been sentenced to jail, with two others receiving prison terms for a separate attack on a different man a month later. DC Andy Buckingham of Kirklees CID expressed satisfaction with the convictions, describing the offenses as involving extreme violence.
The gang targeted the first victim, a drug user and dealer, after police seized drugs belonging to them following an arrest. Ringleader Natalie Dennison, along with Joshua Bhatti and Makyle Francois, demanded money from the victim, leading to a series of violent acts, including assaults with various weapons.
The court revealed disturbing details of the torture inflicted on the man, including the use of a wooden meat tenderiser as a tool of torment, referencing the novel “Misery” by Stephen King. The victim was waterboarded multiple times before managing to escape with the help of a passerby who provided him with money for transportation back home.
In his victim impact statement, the man described suffering from panic attacks, anxiety, and depression, along with lasting physical injuries. The trauma he endured has profoundly affected his mental and emotional well-being, making it difficult for him to lead a normal life.
The court also heard about a separate retaliatory attack involving the same gang members and two others in August 2024. The victims in both incidents faced severe physical harm and psychological distress, highlighting the brutal and callous nature of the perpetrators’ actions.
Dennison, Bhatti, Francois, and their accomplices admitted to their crimes at different stages of the legal proceedings. They were handed lengthy prison sentences for charges related to assault, sexual assault, kidnapping, and false imprisonment, reflecting the severity of their offenses and the lasting impact on the victims.