A MAN and a woman have been arrested in Wilcannia, NSW, in relation to a kidnapping of a Hamilton man that occurred in town last Friday.

Detectives from the Hamilton Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) had been investigating the kidnapping after being told a man was picked up by a woman driving a blue Holden Commodore sedan from a Hamilton address about 11.30pm on Friday, May 6.

Once inside the vehicle, it is believed the man was assaulted by a man hiding inside the car.

The offenders then drove to a petrol station on Cox Street where the victim managed to escape and raise the alarm.

The 38-year-old male victim was attended to by Hamilton Police at the petrol station before being taken to hospital with significant facial injuries.

A witness who wishes to remain anonymous, attended the petrol station shortly after the man allegedly escaped from the vehicle and said the man was visibly distressed and shouting and “his whole face was purple and bruised and swollen”.

The man was allegedly locked inside the boot of the Commodore sedan but managed to jump out while the male offender was filling up with petrol.

The male offender then allegedly assaulted the victim at the station before the victim managed to alert the service attendant and ask for help. 

The female offender also allegedly exited the vehicle and attempted to dissuade the service attendant from calling for help and yelled, “don’t listen to him he’s bullsh***ing”.

However, the service attendant allegedly responded by saying that as the victim had asked for help, he (the service attendant) would help.

The man and woman then allegedly left the scene.

It is believed the offenders then drove for almost 10 hours, a distance of 856 kilometres, before being arrested Wilcannia.

A 38-year-old South Australian man and a 33-year-old Stawell woman were arrested in relation to the incident on the Barrier Highway, Wilcannia, about 6.30pm on Tuesday night.

They are currently in custody and are expected to appear in the Broken Hill court on Thursday, where Hamilton detectives are expected to seek extradition to Victoria.

The couple are likely to appear in the Mildura Magistrates Court on Friday for a bail/remand hearing if the extradition order is granted.

So far, the man and woman have been charged with kidnapping, however police may also lay assault-related charges soon.

The alleged victim is reported to be recovering from serious facial injuries.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au.