A university student was put through a terrifying ordeal after his car was hijacked late at night by two men and a woman and he was forced to drive them to get drugs, a court heard.

Connor Fitzgerald was heading home in Mount Ephraim in Tunbridge Wells at 1am on March 30 last year when he saw a man standing in the middle of the road.

After he was forced to stop to avoid an accident, the man, Justin Tottle, told him: “You are going to have to take us to High Brooms.”

He added he would give him “a line or a fiver”. The victim refused but the three got into his car. Under threat, he drove them to High Brooms.

Prosecutor Abigail White said during the journey the passengers were talking to a drug dealer. Mr Fitzgerald was told to drive faster.

They went to a cash machine at a garage in St John’s Road, saying they were “ten short”, but could not get any money. They then went to a garage in Queen Street.

Miss White told Maidstone Crown Court the other man made threats from the back seat, saying the victim was going to be slashed and cut up.

He was told to go to Asda and get some cash, but Mr Fitzgerald said he was a student and did not have any money.

“The defendant tried to control the wheel and pressurised him to get out of the car,” said Miss White.

“The second male made threats to drop him off a bridge. He said: ‘If you don’t pull the car over I am going to kill you.’ He punched the headrest behind him.”

Tottle 25, punched the glove compartment, damaging it. Fearing for his safety, Mr Fitzgerald pulled over. The three then fell out with each other.

The victim was told to wait outside an address. While they were inside, he took the opportunity to escape. He went home and told his mother and the police were called.

Tottle, who has previous convictions for grievous bodily harm, drug possession and criminal damage, was linked to forensic evidence in the car.

The self-employed carpenter, of Mount Pleasant Court, Hildenborough, admitted kidnap and was jailed for two years and nine months.

Miss White said the other man could not be identified.

Judge Jeremy Carey said: “I would have thought this was absolutely terrifying because of its unpredictable nature with people on drugs and in drink.

"It is a cocktail that a person of very strong character would still find frightening.”

The judge told Tottle: “Because he is a decent young man, he is probably not as worldly wise as you. For 20-25 minutes he was terrorised in that car.

“He must have had a justified fear he would be assaulted with a weapon.

"Mr Fitzgerald was a vulnerable young man and must be commended for keeping his cool. To his credit, he did not make a meal of it.”

Natalie Carter, defending, said Tottle came across as “an affable, polite young man with plenty of potential”.

She added: “When he consumes too much alcohol, he does stupid, reckless things. He wants to put this behind him and make a positive contribution to society.”

After the hearing, Detective Sergeant Dan Barker said: "Tottle showed a complete disregard for the impact his actions would have on a victim who remains shaken by his ordeal.

"He should consider his violent and intimidating manner and seek to reform while in prison.

"I would like to thank the victim for his assistance throughout the investigation and trial process."