Timothy Elder, Joshua Cowan, Joshua Elliot: Sentence set for Nowra trio who kidnapped, assaulted man in drug debt revenge plot

A South Coast trio who violently kidnapped, assaulted and threatened to use an angle grinder to cut the hand off a man during a violent drug debt revenge plot, are set to be sentenced.

The incident occurred on St Anns St, Nowra. Picture: Google Maps

A South Coast trio who violently kidnapped, assaulted and threatened to use an angle grinder to cut the hand off a man during a violent drug debt revenge plot, are set to be sentenced.

Joshua Elliott, 40, Joshua Cowan, 41, and Timothy Elder, 33, will face sentencing on February 28 following the attack in Nowra more than two years ago.

The three men each previously pleaded guilty to kidnap with intent to cause harm, while charges of aggravated break and enter, stalking and common assault were withdrawn following plea negotiations with the Crown.

Court documents state the victim owed drug money to the men before he was lured to a St Anns St home under the guise of a drug deal on October 29, 2022.

Once there, they ambushed him with a flurry of punches and dragged him to the kitchen, where Elliott then threatened to cut the victim’s hand off while waving around an angle grinder.

Joshua Cowan, 41, was one of the three men arrested and charged for the brutal kidnap plot. Picture: Facebook

The victim managed to briefly escape before being shoved down a flight of stairs and restrained again.

Agreed facts state Elliott then ordered him to place his mouth over the roadside gutter.

The trio will be sentenced in Nowra District Court. Picture: John Appleyard

At this point in the brutal ambush, one of the men drove a car to the victim, with Elliott ordering Cowan and Elder to “put him in the boot and take him out bush”.

The facts reveal neighbours overheard the commotion, yelled and contacted police.

The trio fled, leaving the injured victim behind.

Emergency services arrived and the victim was taken to Shoalhaven District Hospital with bruising.

On December 22, 2022 – following a multi-week investigation by Southern Police District officers – Elliot, Cowan and Elder were arrested.

They have remained in custody at South Coast Correctional Centre since.

The victim has not been charged with any offences.

All three men originally pleaded not guilty, however in 2024 – following negotiations – their pleas were changed and the aforementioned charges were withdrawn.

Their case returned to Nowra District Court on Monday, where defence barristers Joseph Klarica, Jack Hibbard and Bernadette O’Reilly asked Judge William Fitzsimmons for their clients’ sentencing hearing to occur in two weeks.

They also submitted the hearing would take three hours given the size of the case.

Judge Fitzsimmons did not oppose, adjourning the kidnapping case for sentence hearing on February 28.

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