A NEWPORT heroin dealer kidnapped one of his clients over an unpaid drugs debt after locking him in a car boot, a jury heard.

Ansar Hussain is accused of taking Richard Noble to a secluded spot and beating him up after threatening he would make him “beg for mercy”.

The 25-year-old alleged drug dealer, of Hampden Road, has gone on trial at Cardiff Crown Court accused of kidnap on September 3, 2018.

A co-defendant, Mohammed Ahmed, aged 44, of Conway Road, Newport, faces the same charge with prosecutor Ieuan Bennett claiming he was part of a “joint enterprise”.

Hussain is also charged with two counts of being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug of class A, three counts of supplying a controlled drug, possessing a controlled drug with intent to supply and possessing a controlled drug of class B.

Both men deny the charges.

Mr Bennett has told the jury that Hussain was owed £140 by Mr Noble who suffered from drug addiction.

He said how the alleged victim was kidnapped from Newport’s Chepstow Road and driven to a car park in Caerleon after being locked in the boot of a car.

It is claimed that Hussain beat Mr Noble up and threatened him over the debt and that Ahmed was the driver of the car.

Mr Bennett told the court how the complainant was then taken back to his home and as an added part of his “punishment” made to look after a large drugs stash.

The jury heard how another man delivered a “significant” amount of crack cocaine to Mr Noble’s flat with a street value of £8,000.

The complainant was later arrested at his home when police found the drugs.

A video recording was played to the court of Mr Noble’s alleged ordeal which was retrieved by detectives from an Apple iPhone which was found in Hussain’s bedroom

In the short footage, a man can be heard shouting at him: “You are going to beg for mercy.”

The jury were also shown pictures from the phone which appeared to show drugs on a table and weighing scales.

Hussain is represented by his barrister John Ryan and Ahmed is defended by Ben Waters.

The trial, which is expected to last into next week and is being heard before Judge David Wynn Morgan.

Proceeding.