A 12-YEAR-OLD girl's disappearance from East Lancashire led to three men taking the law into their own hands, a court has heard.

One of the trio kidnapped a student, whom it was thought, may have known something about the girl's whereabouts.

After this, the two other men falsely imprisoned a taxi driver, Preston Crown Court heard.

Hamzah Nain, 24, of Dalton Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to charges of false imprisonment, perverting the course of justice and inflicting grievous bodily harm.

In addition, he had been committed by magistrates for sentence on being concerned in making arrangements to facilitate someone's entry to the country, as well as five offences of using a false instrument. He was jailed for a total of 21 months.

Qulzam Nain, 22, also of Dalton Close, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment, for which he received a six-month sentence.

Mubarik Zabier, 20, of Montague Street, Blackburn, admitted one offence of kidnap and was given six months' detention.

The court was told that following the disappearance of the girl in March 2000, it was thought that a student called Riafat Ali might know the whereabouts of a man thought to be with her.

Fraser Livesey, prosecuting, said Mr Ali was told to get into a car.

He was driven towards the Pleasington area of Blackburn against his wishes. He was also taken to a supermarket car park before being dropped off in Montague Street.

Then in August of that same year, a taxi driver, Shafiq Hussain, was ordered to get into a car on Mill Lane, Blackburn, driven by Qulzam Nain. He was told he should get Mr Ali to drop allegations that had been made.

The victim was driven to a deserted car park and there punched by Hamzah Nain before someone else joined in. Mr Hussain later stated he passed out at the time.