A MAN was savagely beaten after being abducted at gunpoint by masked attackers and driven nearly 200 miles from his home, a court heard.

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 the outskirts of Liverpool where he was beaten further before eventually being allowed to telephone for help.

The court heard how his father David Flannigan discovered his badly beaten son sitting outside a pub in Maghull, in the city after being directed there by one of his abductors.

Mr Flannigan, who admits it is a "complete mystery" why he was targeted, was taken to hospital with significant face and head injuries, fractures to his fingers and had to have a testicle removed due to the assault.

Mr Flannigan, a scaffolder, was allegedly set upon by Daniel Lafferty, John Haase and an unknown man after he arrived home alone in the early hours.

Mr Flannigan told the court how his face was covered with a hood shortly after leaving the house and it was not removed until he was left outside the pub to be picked up.

Jurors were shown closed-circuit TV footage of the men breaking into Mr Flannigan's home and him being dragged out in a headlock a short time later.

Lafferty, 37, of Maghull, Liverpool, admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

John Haase, 48, of Liverpool, denies kidnap, causing grievous bodily harm with intent and aggravated burglary. He also denies wounding with intent and possessing a firearm in relation to a separate incident.

Lafferty has also admitted wounding with intent in relation to the later attack.

Malcolm Lindsay, 27, of Crighton, Washington, denies aiding and abetting Lafferty and Haase. The trial continues