A SHOP assistant feared he was going to be executed after he was kidnapped dressed only in a bin bag, a court heard. The 25-year-old victim and his 18-year-old colleague, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were handcuffed and bundled into a car boot

A SHOP assistant feared he was going to be executed after he was kidnapped dressed only in a bin bag, a court heard.

The 25-year-old victim and his 18-year-old colleague, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were handcuffed and bundled into a car boot as they closed up the sports shop they worked at in Ladbroke Grove on August 2 last year, Southwark Crown Court heard on Monday August 10.

Joseph Hadji, 27, of Ashmore Road, Queen's Park, was the alleged ringleader of the plot to force relatives to pay �90,000 in ransom after the duo were kidnapped for a week, jurors heard.

The pair were pistol-whipped, forced to watch torture DVDs, and told they would be shot if relatives did not pay, the court heard.

The 25-year-old was warned the gang would 'blow his brains out' if he did not 'shut up', prosecutor Matthew Farmer said.

He tried to escape but was dragged back and pushed to the floor where he was stamped on, punched and kicked, jurors were told.

They were finally rescued by police from the boot of a car outside a flat in southeast London after one of the pair's brother handed over �20,000.

Mr Farmer said: "The younger victim felt he was going to be killed as he lay in the boot of the car. The older victim felt like he was being dressed to be buried. No sooner had they put them in the boot, police swooped."

Hadji admits two counts of kidnap but denies two counts of false imprisonment and one of blackmail.

Two other men admit two counts of false imprisonment and one of blackmail, another denies two counts of kidnap and one of blackmail and two others deny two counts of false imprisonment and one of blackmail.

The trial continues.