An attacker who abducted his victim at gunpoint before taking him 200 miles away so he could be beaten further is facing years behind bars.

Paul Flannigan was kidnapped by three men wearing balaclavas who burst into his bedroom at Burnhope Lodge in Burnhope, County Durham, in the early hours of March 15 last year.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how he was driven to Liverpool where he was beaten further before being allowed to telephone for help. The court heard how his father David Flannigan discovered his badly beaten son sitting outside a pub after being directed there by one of his abductors.

One of his suspected abductors John Haase denied all charges and claimed he was on honeymoon when Mr Flannigan, and a second victim in Liverpool, were targeted.

But a jury found him guilty of five charges including causing grievous bodily harm with intent, kidnap and firearm charges. He will be sentenced later.

Mr Flannigan, who admits it is a "complete mystery" why he was targeted, was taken to the University Hospital of North Durham with face and head injuries, fractures to his fingers. He also had to have a testicle removed due to the assault.

Mr Flannigan, a scaffolder, was set upon by Daniel Lafferty, John Haase and an unknown man after he arrived home.

He told the court yesterday: "I looked around and three men came in my house, overpowered me, took me into a car and took me away. "I was put into a car and taken to a house. I was beaten again, released and my dad came to pick me up."

Mr Flannigan told the court how his face was covered with a hood and it was not removed until he was dumped outside the pub.

Lafferty, 37, of Parkthorn Square, Maghull, Liverpool, admitted taking part in the kidnap and beating of Mr Flannigan and pleaded guilty to kidnap and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

John Haase, 48, of Pinfold Crescent, Liverpool, denied kidnap, causing grievous bodily harm with intent and aggravated burglary in relation to Mr Flannigan.

He also denied wounding with intent and possessing a firearm in relation to an attack on another man on Merseyside. Haase was found guilty of all charges against him.

Lafferty also admitted wounding with intent in relation to the later attack and the pair will be sentenced together at a later date.

Malcolm Lindsay, 27, of Crighton, Washington, denied aiding and abetting Lafferty and Haase carry out grievous bodily harm with intent by showing them where Mr Flannigan lived.

He was found not guilty part way through the trial at the direction of Judge Maurice Carr.