A JURY deciding the fate of a 'gang' on trial for kidnapping a local businessman has been discharged.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) say they will seek a retrial for Daniel Harkins and his five co-defendants.

A CPS spokesperson says the jury were discharged during a hearing at Southampton Crown Court on Thursday, following "issues" during the jury deliberations.

The Echo is unable to report the nature of the decision, due to legal restrictions.

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson said: “His Honour Judge Henry in the case of R v Harkins and others took the decision on November 30, to discharge the jury following issues that arose during the jury’s deliberations.

"The Crown Prosecution Service has indicated that it will seek a retrial on the remaining counts, count 2- kidnap and count 3- assault by beating.”

Harkins, 36, of Sherborne Road, Eastleigh; Jamie Kingstone, 40, of Paynes Road, Shirley; Leroy King, 34, of Dutton Lane, Eastleigh; Rodney Traves, 47, of Croydon Close, Southampton; Peter Chamberlain, 49, of Chaucer Road, Southampton and Alan Boddy, 47, of Goldingham Drive, Essex, are all accused of kidnapping Richard Baker.

The group allegedly took Mr Barker from his premises in West End, as they were on a "revenge mission" to find two people they believed were connected to an arson at Samson's Gym – owned by Harkins.

They allegedly went after Mr Barker, as they believed he had the telephone number of a man connected to the arson.

All six men deny his kidnap and subsequent assault charges.