'Potpourri attack' victim tells trial of terrifying ordeal

A MAN was subjected to an hour-long ordeal by a gang who stripped him and force-fed him potpourri to get money from him.

The gang imprisoned Christopher Hipkiss after luring him to a flat in west Hull, believing he was responsible for stealing £90 from one of their bank accounts.

Liam Woods, 25, is on trial at Hull Crown Court accused of binding Mr Hipkiss's hands with cable ties during his ordeal.

Alexander Oades, Holly Norman and Jamie Mullenger have all pleaded guilty to false imprisonment.

Prosecutor Nick Adlington told the jury the gang called Mr Hipkiss and asked him to come to a flat in Coltman Street on April 12 last year.

He said: "Mr Hipkiss felt intimidated. Oades holds a knife to him and told him to strip and then he was made to eat a jar of potpourri."

It is alleged Oades, 22, of Great Union Street, east Hull, told Mr Woods to tie Mr Hipkiss's hands with cable ties.

Mr Woods claims he tied them the wrong way so they would not work.

In a statement read to the court, Mr Hipkiss, 24, said: "Alex pulled out a silver-handled blade.

"He looked angry and was very intense and glaring at me.

"He held the knife towards my head and told me to get undressed. I was so scared, I didn't like to say no.

"Alex told Liam to tie my hands behind my back.

"I couldn't believe this was happening.

"He took the knife and cut my sleeve and the back of my hooded jacket. He said 'look how easily it cuts through your clothing, think how easily it will cut you'.

"Alex said, 'I have a lump hammer and I will use it'. I could see by the size of the hammer it would hurt me.

"I have never been so frightened.

"He said, 'We know people who will kill people'.

"All that was going through my head was why would they have a knife if they were not going to use it?"

The jury was shown a silver knife and a lump hammer used during the imprisonment.

The court heard Norman believed Mr Hipkiss had taken her bank card and withdrawn money from her account while her partner Oades was in hospital.

Mr Hipkiss had been staying at their home at the time.

During the incident, Mullenger, 19, of Cholmley Street, west Hull, and Norman, 22, of Great Union Street, guarded the door.

Mr Woods is alleged to have sat on the bed.

Mr Woods, of Pickering Road, west Hull, denies false imprisonment and the trial continues.