TWO Stourport men have appeared in court over an alleged gangland kidnap.

Six defendants have all been charged in connection with the alleged abduction and false imprisonment of two men from Stoke-on-Trent.

Cornelius Price, 38, of Sai Wen, Lower Heath, Stourport, is charged with conspiracy to kidnap.

He is said to have come to the UK from Ireland in the months before the alleged kidnap, which took place in July this year.

Danny Bridges, 39, also of Sai Wen, Lower Heath, Mark Kavanagh, 32, of Brindley Avenue, Manchester, and Lisa Marie Finnerty, 37, of Ethel Court, Rochdale, Lancashire, are all charged with conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to blackmail.

Kavanagh is originally from Drogheda in Ireland and is said to have travelled to Manchester where he met Price.

Quincy Bramble, 30, of Lighterman Mews, Stepney Green, East London, and Darren McClean, 35, of Smithy Fen Farm, Cottenham, Cambridgeshire, were both charged with two counts of kidnap and two counts of false imprisonment.

McClean, who is also known by the surname McLarthy, faces other charges of driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance.

They were all arrested as part of a major investigation by the West Midlands organised crime unit.

Four of the men appeared at Wood Green Crown Court on Friday via video link, whereas Bramble was brought from HMP Birmingham to appear in person.

Finnerty appeared on video sitting in her solicitor's office in Stoke, as she is not in custody and is on bail.

No pleas were entered by any defendant.

Judge David Aaronberg QC joined Finnerty's case to the other five defendants and adjourned the arraignment until next month when all six are expected to enter pleas to the charges.

Detectives made two other arrests in connection with the alleged kidnap.

This included a 28-year-old man, from Cottentham, Cambridgshire, who has been arrested on suspicion of kidnap but not yet charged.

And a 37-year-old woman, from Rochdale, Lancashire, was also arrested on suspicion of supplying class A drugs.

Both have been released under investigation while the police probe continue. It is not yet known if these suspects will be joined to the future trial.

All six defendants currently charged will next appear at Wood Green Crown Court on December 17 via video link, except for Bramble who is due to be moved to Pentonville prison in north London and will appear in person.