Two men from the Forest of Dean have been sentenced to a combined total of more than eight years in prison after subjecting a young man to a terrifying six-hour torture ordeal. Joshua Rice, 38, and Andrew Rowbotham, 44, physically and psychologically abused their victim in July 2025, culminating in him being gagged, blindfolded, and confined in a makeshift “body bag” inside a hole in the Forest of Dean.
The victim, a man in his twenties, was initially “cuckooed”—a form of exploitation—over several months by the pair, who coerced him into storing a large sum of cash. On July 29, Rice and Rowbotham accused him of stealing this money, violently assaulted him, and subjected him to numerous threats and further abuse.
During the ordeal, the victim was punched repeatedly, burnt with a cigarette lighter, and threatened with weapons including a hockey stick and a curved knife. Rice forced the victim to provide the names of his female relatives and issued chilling threats to harm them if he reported the crime.
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The culimination occurred in the Forest of Dean when the victim was gagged and bound with zip ties, blindfolded, and placed in a hole lined with black plastic sheeting. The men surrounded him with further threats to kill, leaving the victim terrified and fearing for his life. After releasing him, they warned they would monitor his movements and visit daily.
Police arrested Rice and Rowbotham following a report from a family member. They found weapons, plastic sheeting, and other evidence corroborating the victim’s account. Both men denied wrongdoing initially but ultimately pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and making threats to kill.
In court, the victim described the deep psychological scars left by the incident, including flashbacks, disrupted sleep, and a loss of security and self-esteem. The judge handed Rice a sentence of four years and four months, while Rowbotham received three years and seven months, noting his partial remorse.
Both men are subject to restraining orders and ordered to pay the victim’s costs. Investigating officers praised the courage of the victim and witnesses for helping bring the perpetrators to justice and preventing further crime.