THE grandmother of the young man abducted from a petrol station in Blashford late on Sunday evening has said he is recovering well despite being injured during the ordeal.

The woman, who did not want to be named, said her grandson is a quiet gentle boy who has been left incredibly shaken up by the terrifying event but seems to be coping well.

The 23-year-old cashier from the New Forest was forced into the boot of the car at Watsons Service Station, also known as Windmill Garage, just before midnight by three men and driven to a remote location where he was abandoned.

He was spotted on the A31 near to Rufus Stone several hours later by passing motorists and collected by police.

His grandmother, who lives on the outskirts of the New Forest, said: "He was beaten on different parts of his body. The doctor has been out to see him and was very kind but he will have to go back at a later date to be seen again as a precaution.

"The most worrying thing is the mental trauma he will be suffering from.

"You can't go through something like this and not be affected.

"He was out there for a long time and he'd lost his glasses somewhere along the way, so must have been very disorientated and frightened.

"The police have been great and we're satisfied they are doing everything they can but we're private people and as a family have been left very shaken up by what's happened."

Detectives are keen to hear from anyone who was in the vicinity or passed the garage at the time of the incident and saw a dark coloured car.

  • Anyone with information is asked to contact the CID office at Lyndhurst police station on 0845 045 45 45 or Crimestoppers on 0800 55 111.