Key Points
- Cambridgeshire Police were called at 10.28pm on Tuesday 20 January 2026 to reports that a man had been “taken into a vehicle against his will” in Cambridge.
- Over half an hour later, officers stopped two vehicles on the A14 at the junction with Easton Road in Huntingdon.
- Two men were arrested at the scene and a third man was arrested the following day in connection with the incident.
- Luke Pepper, 53, of Oxenden Road, Great Oxenden, Market Harborough, has been charged with kidnap and intentional strangulation.
- Luke Pepper, 27, of the same address, has been charged with kidnap and assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH).
- Adam Hutcheson, 39, of the same address, has been charged with kidnap.
- All three men are due to appear at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday, 19 February 2026.
- Police have confirmed the incident is isolated and there is no wider risk to the public.
Cambridge (Cambridge Tribune) February 11, 2026 –Three men from the same address in Market Harborough have been charged with kidnap after a man was reportedly taken into a vehicle against his will in Cambridge on 20 January 2026, with Cambridgeshire Police stopping two vehicles on the A14 in Huntingdon shortly afterwards and confirming the incident as isolated.
What happened in the Cambridge kidnap incident?
Cambridgeshire Police received the initial call at 10.28pm on Tuesday 20 January 2026 with reports that a man had been “taken into a vehicle against his will” in Cambridge. As detailed in the Cambridge News coverage under the Cambridgeshire section, officers were alerted to the alarming situation prompting an immediate response from the force.
Over half an hour later, the police stopped two vehicles on the A14 at the junction with Easton Road in Huntingdon, a location referenced in the Cambridge News A14 topic page as part of the major trunk road network serving the region. Two men were arrested at the scene, with a third man taken into custody the next day in connection with the incident. Cambridgeshire Police have confirmed this sequence of events, emphasising the swift action that led to the arrests.
Who are the men charged with kidnap?
The three accused men all hail from Oxenden Road, Great Oxenden, Market Harborough. Luke Pepper, aged 53, faces charges of kidnap and intentional strangulation. A younger Luke Pepper, 27, from the same address, has been charged with kidnap and assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH).
Adam Hutcheson, 39, also of Oxenden Road, Great Oxenden, Market Harborough, is charged with kidnap. The Cambridge News report notes that all three share the same residential address, though no further details on their relationships or backgrounds have been disclosed by police at this stage.
When and where will the men appear in court?
All three men – Luke Pepper, 53; Luke Pepper, 27; and Adam Hutcheson, 39 – are set to appear at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday, 19 February 2026. The Cambridge News article specifies this date for their court appearance following the charges. No additional information on pleas, bail status or preliminary hearings has been released in the available coverage.
Is the incident isolated according to police?
Cambridgeshire Police have explicitly confirmed that this is an isolated incident. The force’s statement, as quoted in the Cambridge News, reassures the public that there is no ongoing threat or wider pattern of similar offences linked to this case. Officers have stressed this point to alleviate community concerns following the dramatic nature of the reported abduction.
How did police respond to the reports on the A14?
The police response unfolded rapidly after the initial 10.28pm call on 20 January. Within over half an hour, officers had located and stopped two vehicles on the A14 at the Easton Road junction in Huntingdon. This interception led directly to the arrest of two men at the scene.
A third arrest was made the following day, completing the trio of suspects now charged. The Cambridge News coverage highlights the efficiency of the operation, crediting the coordination between response teams in Cambridge and Huntingdon areas.
What charges do the Peppers and Hutcheson face specifically?
Luke Pepper, 53, of Oxenden Road, Great Oxenden, Market Harborough, faces the most serious charges of kidnap and intentional strangulation, as stated by Cambridgeshire Police in the Cambridge News report. Luke Pepper, 27, from the same address, is accused of kidnap and assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH).
Adam Hutcheson, 39, of Oxenden Road, Great Oxenden, Market Harborough, has been charged solely with kidnap at this stage. The Cambridge News details these charges precisely, drawing from the official police confirmation without speculation on motives or connections between the accused.
Where was the victim reportedly taken against his will?
The incident began in Cambridge, where reports emerged of a man being taken into a vehicle against his will. Cambridgeshire Police logged the call at 10.28pm on 20 January 2026, pinpointing the location within the city. The Cambridge News Cambridgeshire topic page contextualises this as part of local crime reporting in the county.
No further specifics on the exact spot in Cambridge or the victim’s condition post-incident have been disclosed publicly.
Why did police stop vehicles on the A14 in Huntingdon?
Officers stopped two vehicles on the A14 at the junction with Easton Road in Huntingdon over half an hour after the initial Cambridge report. This action followed intelligence or sightings leading the pursuit from the city to the trunk road. The Cambridge News A14 section often covers incidents on this busy route, which links Cambridge to Huntingdon and beyond.
The stops yielded two immediate arrests, underscoring the effectiveness of the police operation spanning multiple locations.
What is known about the suspects’ address in Market Harborough?
All three charged men – the two Luke Peppers and Adam Hutcheson – are listed as residing at Oxenden Road, Great Oxenden, Market Harborough. Great Oxenden is a village in Northamptonshire, some distance from Cambridgeshire, as noted in the Cambridge News article. No statements from the suspects or their representatives have been reported.
The shared address raises questions about familial or associative links, though police have not elaborated.
How has Cambridgeshire Police reassured the public?
In a clear statement to the Cambridge News, Cambridgeshire Police have confirmed the incident is isolated. This assurance aims to prevent undue alarm in Cambridge and surrounding areas following the reported forcible taking of a man into a vehicle. The force’s proactive arrests and charges demonstrate commitment to public safety.
The kidnap charges stem from a late-night report on 20 January 2026 in Cambridge, where a man was allegedly forced into a vehicle, leading to a rapid police response culminating in vehicle stops on the A14 in Huntingdon and arrests of three men from Market Harborough. Luke Pepper, 53, faces kidnap and intentional strangulation; Luke Pepper, 27, kidnap and ABH; and Adam Hutcheson, 39, kidnap, with all due at Cambridge Crown Court on 19 February. Police stress the matter is isolated, closing the loop on what could have escalated into broader concern across Cambridgeshire.
