A MAN was kidnapped by a gang of armed thugs and robbed of thousands of pounds.

Police are releasing CCTV images of men they want to speak to after two violent robberies in Southend - and are urgently appealing to members of the public for help to identify them.

In the most recent incident, the 19-year-old man was walking along Chichester Road in Southend when a group of armed men approached him from behind, grabbed him, and showed him a knife.

The crooks stole the teenager’s wallet and mobile phone and forced the victim into a black Ford Focus where he saw a woman sitting in the front seat.

His head was then covered with a jacket and he was driven around for several hours before stopping at a Co-op in Grays where one of the men withdrew money from a cash point while the victim was kept in the back of the car.

He was finally released from the car at a taxi rank in Grays at about 12.30am.

Bank statements later showed several hundreds of pounds in cash were withdrawn from cash points in Southend and Grays.

In total a cash sum worth thousands of pounds was stolen from the victim using his bank cards.

The stolen bank cards were subsequently used in Shoreditch, Hackney, and Rainham and police believe the people responsible may be from London.

Days earlier a man in his 60s was robbed of his bank card by a gang and suffered a broken leg.

The man was walking along the High Street, Southend, towards the seafront at about 9.20pm when a group of men approached him from behind.

He was struck to the head and was forced to hand over his bank card and pin.

The victim was then assaulted again and left with a broken leg.

The suspects made off with his bag, bank cards, and cash.

The victim spoke to the Echo after the attack and said it will be months before he can walk again after the attack left him with a broken femur bone and multiple cuts and bruises.

Andrew Cuttriss-Curtis, 61, has told the Echo the attack, which saw him beaten with a metal pole, left him “shocked and disoriented”.

He added: “I was left alone in the street, my leg was in agony. I was desperately crawling along towards the casino, calling for help, when someone finally came around the corner and saw me.”

Investigating officers believe the incidents may be linked and have released CCTV images of three men wanted for questioning in connection with the robberies.

The incidents took place in November and Essex Police said they have exhausted all other lines of enquiry and are appealing for help from members of the public.

Anyone who recognises these men or has any information about who they are is being urged to call Essex Police as soon as possible on 101 quoting the crime reference numbers 42/172586/18 and 42/173760/18.

Alternatively the public can share information confidentially with independent crimefighting charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.