Canewdon: Pair jailed following extensive investigation

Two offenders who tortured a man across an hours-long ordeal have been jailed for a combined 24 years thanks to an extensive investigation carried out by our detectives.

Wayne Kavanagh, 32 and Thomas Sitek, 27, received the sentences at Basildon Crown Court on Thursday 27 April after admitting several serious charges.

In the early hours of the morning on Sunday 22 January, a woman arrived at an address in Canewdon, Rochford, to find the two defendants with the victim, a young man they had only met that night.

The trio were engaged in a sparring session with boxing gloves and pads, appearing drunk but in good spirits.

The woman later told officers the atmosphere in the room began to change around 45 minutes later, with Kavanagh beginning to treat the victim “like a punch bag”.

When the woman tried to intervene, Kavanagh was heard to warn her she was next.

Mobile phone footage later showed that Kavanagh had filmed himself punching the victim.

Another video showed both Kavanagh and Sitek standing over the victim while he lay on the floor.

Both defendants repeatedly aimed kicks at the man’s head.

When the woman protested, Kavanagh assaulted her and took her phone to prevent her calling for help.

A knife was taken from the kitchen and used to stab the man in the back.

A discussion followed between Kavanagh and Sitek over what to do with the victim.

Kavanagh was heard to suggest they set the house on fire, and the pair also discussed wrapping him in a rug.

A further knife wound was delivered to the victim’s ear, while the two co-defendants spat on him and hurled verbal abuse.

The assault spanned the course of several hours, before the two defendants fell asleep on a sofa while their victim drifted in and out of consciousness on the floor.

Sitek left the address in a taxi at around 8.30am.

The woman managed to retrieve her mobile phone while Kavanagh slept, messaging for help.

Our officers attended and found Kavanagh still asleep on the sofa, with the victim lying unconscious next to him.

A knife and blood-stained tape were located at the scene, while Kavanagh’s blood-stained clothing was seized.

The victim was left with multiple injuries including a stab wound to his back, a minor bleed on the brain, a severed right earlobe, facial swelling and a defensive wound to his finger.

During our investigation, the victim told us he had been out with some work colleagues on the evening of 21 January.

He met Sitek in a nightclub, before meeting Kavanagh outside and agreeing to join the pair at an after party in Rochford.

Taking a taxi with the defendants, the victim arrived at the address and was told to leave his phone at the front door.

He recalls sparring with both defendants as they told him they would improve his boxing technique.

Remembering little of the ordeal which followed, the victim said he retained a vivid recollection of the defendants spitting on him and shouting abuse while he lay on the floor.

Both defendants were arrested, with Kavanagh, of West Road, Shoeburyness, later admitting counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, two counts of false imprisonment and one count of assault by beating.

Sitek, of Elmsleigh Drive, Leigh, admitted wounding with intent and false imprisonment.

Kavanagh was handed an extended sentence of 14 years and eight months, comprising 10 years and eight months imprisonment and four years extended licence.

Sitek was sentenced to 10 years and six months imprisonment.

Temporary Detective Constable Chris Horton said:

“This was a truly horrifying attack, almost defying belief in its brutality and utterly senseless nature.

“Kavanagh and Sitek had only met the victim that evening, but within a few short hours had resorted to inflicting grievous injury upon him for no discernible reason.

“Worse still, they held a defenceless witness against her will, laughing as she cried.

“They filmed their abuse on mobile phones, showing no mercy throughout this prolonged attack.

“It is thanks to the bravery of the woman who witnessed this incident that both defendants were quickly apprehended.

“In the face of extensive evidence compiled against them, they had little choice but to admit the charges against them.

“They now face a lengthy term behind bars to reflect on their actions.”

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