The trial of two "vigilantes" who allegedly kidnapped a teenager and forced him to jump from a bridge has been halted.

Christopher Rogers, 30, and Ryan Turner, 29, both of Auckland Avenue, Ramsgate, were on trial at Canterbury Crown Court accused of abducting Zak Williams, 19, and making him jump from The Chine at the Westcliff, breaking his ankle and wrist.

But today, the trial was stopped because of illness and the jury was discharged. A new trial is expected to begin later this month.

Both men denied the charge of kidnapping and also causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possessing a knife in public.

Earlier this week, Mr Williams, who gave evidence by video link, told the jury how the two had come to his home in August last year.

He said he was in the loft when the men ordered him to leave his home at knifepoint and told him to hand over his mobile phone.

Mr Williams said he was told to get in the back of a car, which was driven by Rogers.

He told the jury he asked why he was being kidnapped and was told: “You’ll find out.”

Prosecutor Silas Reid claimed: “What these two men did was to take the law into their own hands. It was inexcusable. They wanted to mete out their own form of justice”.

He said the two had made accusations against the teenager, which he had denied.

"He didn't want to jump but the two men told him if he didn't they would batter him and stab him, and so he jumped" - Prosecutor Silas Reid

He said: “They went to his home to look for him and found him hiding in the loft and then they threatened him with the knife.

“During the car journey, they made threats to stab him and that they would bury him, and made comments about them looking to find a shovel.”

Mr Reid said the pair took Mr Williams to a cliff in Ramsgate and told him: “There you go – you are going to have to jump now.”

Mr Williams said it was too high so they took him to The Chine, a bridge over concrete and rocks, and ordered him to jump.

The prosecutor said: “They told him he had to jump.

“They said he might survive with two broken legs.

“But if he jumped and could still walk then he would have to jump again.

“He didn’t want to jump but the two men told him if he didn’t they would batter him and stab him, and so he jumped.”

Mr Reid said Mr Williams was seriously injured and needed treatment for a fractured right heel and broken right wrist after landing on the concrete slabs.