A decorated Royal Marine veteran who took the law into his own hands has been jailed for kidnapping a man, binding him to a signpost, and marking him with the word “THIEF” in what a judge condemned as “vigilantism at its worst.”
Ryan Nicholls, 40, from Cheltenham Way, Cleethorpes, targeted the victim because he believed he had stolen his electric cycle. Instead of reporting the crime to the police, Nicholls and an unidentified accomplice abducted the man, publicly humiliated him, and threatened him with violence.
A Degrading Ordeal
At Grimsby Crown Court, Judge Gurdial Singh sentenced Nicholls to 32 months in prison, branding him “a bully” who showed “not a shred of remorse.”
The court heard that on October 28, 2023, Nicholls and his accomplice confronted a man in Cleethorpes, wrongly believing him to be involved in the theft of Nicholls’ electric cycle two days earlier. After failing to find the actual suspect, they abducted another man instead.
Prosecutor Curtis Dunkley outlined the details of the ordeal:
- Nicholls and his accomplice forced the victim into the street, stopping to purchase a marker pen before continuing the humiliation.
- They ripped off his shirt, tied him to a signpost with tie wraps, and wrote “THIEF” across his chest and forehead.
- The victim was ordered to lie about the incident, claiming it was part of a stag do if anyone asked.
- As he stood tied to the post for 30 minutes, members of the public laughed at him, believing it was a prank.
- Nicholls and his accomplice warned the victim they would break his legs if he attempted to escape.
Eventually, a passerby helped the petrified man break free.
Police Investigation and Arrest
CCTV footage led Humberside Police to identify Nicholls as the perpetrator. When an officer contacted him, Nicholls responded mockingly, refusing to engage because the message did not include “kisses” at the end.
Upon his arrest, Nicholls gave no comment in a police interview.
Veteran’s Defence: PTSD and Character References
Defence lawyer Craig Lowe argued that Nicholls, a former Royal Marine, had suffered from PTSD since his service in Iraq and Afghanistan. He presented character references describing Nicholls as a kind, polite, and considerate person.
However, Judge Singh dismissed PTSD as a justification, stating:
“You deliberately took matters into your own hands. There is no way this court will allow that. PTSD has no relevance in this case.”
Judge’s Condemnation
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Singh condemned the act as “degrading and humiliating” and likened it to “tying a dog to a signpost.”
“You behaved arrogantly. You frog-marched him into the road. He was petrified. You filmed him. This is vigilantism. You have no right to behave in this way.”
Nicholls will serve 32 months in prison for his actions.
A Warning Against Vigilantism
This case serves as a stark warning against taking justice into one’s own hands. Public humiliation and threats of violence are not acceptable responses to crime, regardless of the circumstances.
