Teacher from Ashby private school is recovering from kidnap ordeal on Carribbean island

By Ashby Nub News Reporter 12th Apr 2025

The Lewis Charlton Centre is based at Abney Hastings in Ashby. Photo: Instantstreetview.com
The Lewis Charlton Centre is based at Abney Hastings in Ashby. Photo: Instantstreetview.com

A teacher with connections to a private school in Ashby was held prisoner at gunpoint while in Trinidad and Tobago.

But the Mirror website reports that he was found after escaping his captors.

Zaheer Esat is described as Leader in Education Innovation, Business at Cricket Development at The Lewis Charlton Learning Centre in Ashby,

He was kidnapped last week when he went to visit his parents on the Carribbean island.

The teacher, who is a dual Trinidadian and British national, was snatched from a vehicle that his 70-year-old dad and brother-in-law were driving in, on the island's Cunupia district.

He was reportedly taken when armed men blocked his car and grabbed him from the rear passenger seat, after his family had visited a local mosque. 

His family members were left unharmed but Esat had not been carrying a phone when he was abducted.

The 46-year-old made a movie-style escape by jumping out of the boot of a car while being moved by his kidnappers.

Esat was discovered two days after his shocking disappearance when a passer-by spotted him at a cremation site around six miles away from the kidnapping location. 

He was rushed to Caroni Police Station and received medical treatment.

The teacher told police about his escape and revealed he jumped out of the boot of a car. Esat has since been released back to his family after the shocking ordeal.

His father, a retired Imam who did not want to be identified, issued a heartbreaking plea before his son managed to escape. He begged the kidnappers to let his son go, saying he suffered from asthma and needed his inhaler.

Police confirmed a 28-year-old man has since been arrested in connection with the horrifying incident. 

The UK's Foreign Office has acknowledged the incident involving the dual UK-Trinidad citizen.

A spokesperson said: "We provided support to a British man who was reported missing in Trinidad and were in contact with the local authorities."

Local media reports have said the 28-year-old is expected to be questioned by Trinidad's Anti-Kidnappig Unit as investigations continue.

     

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