THREE men on trial for the kidnap of a drugs runner confessed this morning in a dramatic courtroom twist.

Anthony Cooper, 30, Jonathan Lockey, 25, and Damian Mottram, 29, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment.

The move came on the second day of a trial at Teesside Crown Court, and after the jury had heard of the ordeal from victim David Foster, who was threatened with torture and death.

A fourth man, Christopher Burton, 34, denies charges of false imprisonment and kidnap from June last year, and his trial will continue today.

Mr Foster, who says he was locked in a shipping container and threatened with torture and death has denied "making the whole thing up".

He was cross-examined by a barrister defending Mr Burton, a boxer accused of snatching him and holding him at the lock-up on a Darlington industrial estate.

The 27-year-old was accused of fabricating details of the drama, but stood by his story as he appeared at Teesside Crown Court via a video-link today.

He told a jury of eight women and four men that he was in fear for his life during the incident last June, and has to leave the North-East for his safety.

Three of the four men accused of false imprisonment who pleaded guilty to the charge on the second day of the trial will be sentenced after the trial of Mr Burton.

Mr Burton, 34 - known by the nickname HighTower - denies charges of false imprisonment and kidnap, and being part of a drug-dealing gang run by Cooper.

His lawyer, Rod Hunt, accused Mr Foster of being dishonest, and cited his criminal record which includes offences of burglary and serious violence.

Mr Foster - who has admitted selling cannabis for Cooper - said he was "a changed man" and told the court: "Everyone has a past life and anyone can change."

Under cross-examination, he said: "I wouldn't have moved away from all my family and all the people I love, and gone through all of this for nothing.

"I'm a changed man and I don't do nothing wrong any more . . . I've had sleepless night since . . . I was scared for my life . . . it was terrifying."

Mr Foster was grabbed from a taxi in a midnight carjacking as he returned home, and was driven to Cooper's lock-up at the Albert Hill industrial estate.

On the way, driver Lockey went to Tesco supermarket in nearby Newton Aycliffe and bought a duvet which was going to be used to dispose of his body.

Mr Foster says he was told he would have his fingers cut off and his legs broken before being killed for refusing to sell skunk cannabis for Cooper.

He told police he fled when Cooper and Mr Burton returned to the lock-up and opened the door, leapt on top of containers and scaled a number of fences.

"You said a lot of things in your interview which I say are lies," said Mr Hunt. "The story you have just told us about escaping is complete nonsense.

"What you are saying is impossible . . . you say you escaped like Spiderman from the compound by leaping over containers and climb-proof fences."

Mr Foster replied: "It doesn't matter if it's climb-proof when you're in fear of your life, you can do anything. It's the middle of the night and I was scared."

Cooper, of Bamburgh Place, and Mottram, of Teesway, both Darlington; and Lockey, of Bullamoor Road, Northallerton, have admitted their part in the plot.

The jury is expected to be sent out tomorrow to consider its verdicts on Mr Burton, of Brierton Lane, Hartlepool, after the judge has finished summing-up.