Man abducted in Bulwell and later found shot 'lucky to be alive'

The 27-year-old victim was attacked by at least four men in the car park of Bulwell's Lord Nelson pub at about 7.10 pm on Wednesday last week.

He was then bundled into a car before eventually being dumped in a phone-box near the Griffin's Head pub in Moor Road, Papplewick, at 10.40 pm.

Det Chief Insp Tony Heydon said: "This was a horrific ordeal for the victim, who had to plead for his life with his abductors before they released him."

The man, who lives in Aspley, was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham where he underwent emergency surgery.

The next day, he was well enough to sit up in bed and chat with relatives, and he has since spoken to detectives. He is still in hospital, continuing to receive treatment for his injuries.

A police spokesman said the victim had been shot more than once and was treated for leg and back injuries. His hands were bound during the ordeal.

Det Chief Insp Heydon described the men police were looking for as "very dangerous".

"Anyone on the streets of Nottingham with a firearm could kill someone," he said.

Forensic examinations of the Bulwell and Papplewick scenes continued throughout Thursday last week and Moor Road was shut until 1.30 pm.

Mike Fuller, landlord of the Lord Nelson, claimed there was at first a lot of confusion about what had happened. "I was told it was either a shooting or stabbing," he said.

Residents living near the pub said they saw a man being beaten up before he was driven away in a car at speed, after which police officers – some armed – arrived at the scene.

The drama occurred on the same night as a meeting of Papplewick Parish Council at the village hall – just around the corner from where the man was dumped.

Council chairman Coun Colin Womble said it came as quite a shock when the members found out what had happened.

But he pointed out that even though part of Moor Road was closed for some time, traffic still seemed to flow quite freely through the village during the night.

Police search for three vehicles

POLICE have issued details about three vehicles they need to trace in connection with the shooting and abduction.

A spokesman said: "The victim was bundled into a red Fiat car, which was accompanied by another vehicle.

"Enquiries have revealed that the man was then transferred into a third vehicle, believed to be a blue car-derived van, where he was bound, stripped of all his clothing and kept for several hours at an unknown location.

"The clothes he was wearing, which include a black T-shirt, white Adidas trainers and black tracksuit top and bottoms, are still missing."

Det Chief Insp Tony Heydon said: "We are following up a number of lines of inquiry but the motive still remains unclear.

"We hope that by releasing details of the cars involved, the public might be able to fill in some gaps, such as where the victim was taken after the abduction.

"Did you see a man being transferred from one car to another? Did you see a vehicle similar to any of the ones mentioned parked up in an isolated area? Have you seen a pile of black clothes abandoned somewhere? If so, we urge you to contact us."

Police re-visited both crime scenes on Wednesday to carry out further inquiries and speak to people in the two areas. Road checks were also carried out around the Griffin's Head.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Oxclose Lane CID on 0115 9670999 (extension 4137) or the confidential 'Crimestoppers' hotline on 0800 555111.