I thought I was going to die

Mansfield taxi driver Ken Berry allegedly kidnapped by a man with a false firearm.

Driver Ken Berry (60), who works for 6five2’s, was put through the terrifying two hour ordeal on Saturday night after picking up the passenger in the town.

Shocked Mr Berry said he knew something was wrong as soon as he picked the man up.

Speaking exclusively to the Chad, Ken said: “He got in the seat behind me and didn’t say anything.

“I asked him where he wanted to go and he eventually said take me to Carsic.

“As I drove out of the rank I felt something I understood to be a gun poking into the back of my neck.

“He started swearing and said he would blow two holes in my head if I didn’t do what he said.

“His behaviour was bizarre, he told me to ring the police on the speaker phone and tell them what was happening.

“It wasn’t even a robbery situation, I don’t know what he wanted.”

Mr Berry then drove the man to Mansfield and then to Chesterfield.

His two hour ordeal finally ended when he said the man told him to buy him some cigarette papers at a garage at Chesterfield.

He went into the garage shop and slipped out of the back door to make his escape.

“I ended up in someone’s house and then we heard the police helicopter.” he added.

“I didn’t feel scared at the time when he was in the car, I was trying to befriend him. But things can’t get much worse than thinking you have a gun at the back of your head.

“It was only in the days after that it all hit me. It was a horrible two hour ordeal and something I don’t want to repeat.”

Defiant Ken has since returned to work.

A spokesman for 6five2’s said: “It was very frightening for the driver. It is appalling for something like this to happen when someone is just trying to earn a living.”

Darren Lakin (21) appeared at Mansfield Magistrates’ Court on Monday charged with kidnapping and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, common assault and threats to kill.

Police said Lakin, of Lammas Close, Sutton, was arrested at around 9.55pm on Saturday (6th September) after reports that a taxi driver was held against his will in the Mansfield area.

A police spokesman said the victim suffered minor injuries and shock.