Men convicted of kidnapping drug dealer in Brighton street

Ilir Hasa, Saimir Nezaj, Gazmend Mula, Redon Sadria and Ardi Murataj will be sentenced at Lewes Crown Court

Two men have been convicted of kidnapping a drug dealer off a street in Brighton.

Ilir Hasa, 24, of Denmark Villas, Hove, and Saimir Nezaj, 24, of no fixed abode, bundled their victim into a car in Prince's Terrace on 12 April.

Their victim Ardi Murataj, 20, was found safe and well.

A third man, Gazmend Mula, 29, of Temple Street, Brighton, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap at the trial in Lewes Crown Court.

Murataj - who was also known by the name of Tony Kurt - pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply.

In April Sussex Police appealed for information as to who Murataj was after CCTV showed him being kidnapped.

He eventually contacted police himself after seeing the appeals, which were in both English and Albanian.

Ardi Murataj was spotted being kidnapped on CCTV

Another man, Redon Sadria, 19, of New Steine, Brighton, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply drugs.

A date for sentencing has not been set.