A MAN has been found guilty of kidnapping his friend by forcing him into a car, before saying he would tie him to a tree.

Myles Howells, 22, of Partridge Way in Duffryn, Newport, pleaded not guilty to the offence but was convicted by a jury yesterday following a three-day trial at Cardiff Crown Court.

Howells was “great friends” with the victim Levi Roberts, a carpet fitter from Duffryn, Newport, before the offence on Thursday, January 19, the trial heard.

Mr Roberts owed Howells around £80, after he had borrowed around £140 at Christmas time, but the carpet fitter did not repay his friend by the agreed date earlier that week, the court heard.

Howells ‘barged’ into Xtreme Barbers in Commercial Street, Newport, before ordering Mr Roberts into his father’s silver Mercedes outside.

The court heard Howells was driving towards a secluded woodland near Brickyard Lane when he said he was going to tie Mr Roberts to a tree.

In the trial, Howells admitted saying: “I should tie you to a tree and leave you there.”

Howells said he did not mean it literally, but Mr Roberts told the court he believed it was a threat.

Fearing for his safety, Mr Roberts said he jumped out of the Mercedes as it slowed to around 15 to 20mph for an approaching vehicle.

The 28-year-old then climbed over a barbed wire fence, went over a ditch and up an embankment, before crossing six lanes of moving traffic on the M4.

Howells sent a text message to Mr Roberts later that day, saying he would spend every day looking for him until he had paid the money.

Nigel Stoneman, 27, listed as of Duffryn, Newport, and a 17-year-old youth, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, were found not guilty of the kidnapping.

Howells is due to be sentenced today.