Criminal collared

In a crime that doesn’t lend itself to the colours blue or white, a 24-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday for holding a woman captive for over three months. With, as you’ve probably already guessed by the laboured opening sentence, the use of a collar.

It appears that Yasuyoshi Kobayashi became acquainted with his 19-year-old victim through the internet, and the pair eventually got together in a Tokyo hotel sometime in early March last year. But for the unfortunate young lady things quickly turned sour, as Kobayashi attacked her with repeated punches to the face before confining her in the room.

The unbalanced oppressor (who is alleged to have demanded he be referred to as master) then moved the woman to his home, and with the continued use of a collar kept her there until June 19. A momentous day for the victim, as when her tormentor’s guard briefly dropped, she successfully escaped.

During questioning, Kobayashi unbelievably told the police that despite the long time span he doesn’t remember the incident. An approach he’d be advised to adopt in the future when he finds himself confined for considerably longer than three months.