A MAN was forced into the back seat of a car and made to strip before being dumped on the street.

Police believe the 31-year-old victim had just hours earlier been chased by two men into Southampton’s WestQuay Shopping Centre.

At around 11.20pm on Monday he was chased by two men and forced into the back seat of a light coloured car near to the junction of Denzil Avenue and Derby Road.

The vehicle travelled up Denzil Avenue towards Onslow Road. The victim was forced to strip and made to get out of the vehicle around Southcliff Road where, after a short time, his clothes were returned to him.

Earlier in the evening, at around 7.15pm, it is believed the same man was chased by two other men into West Quay shopping centre where he sought refuge.

Both incidents are being investigated by the police’s Operation Fortress team, which was set up to reduce the harm of drug-related violence around Southampton.

DC Mark Edis from the team said: “We’d like to speak to anyone who witnessed either of these incidents both of which happened in very busy areas. Even at that time of night there would have been people going about their normal business.

“Please contact us in confidence if you have any information you think may help, no matter how small, or if you would like to speak to the Operation Fortress team about drug-related violence where you live around Southampton.”

Anyone with information should call the Operation Fortress team in confidence on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.