Bedfont kidnapper jailed

The gang, also including Pierre Walrond, from Essex, Olutola Gisanrin, of Rotherhithe and Harjinder Khakh, of West Drayton, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to blackmail.

Their hostage was assaulted then bound at the hands and feet and driven across London. He was later held in a car in Berkshire while the gang demanded a ransom of £20,000 from one of his friends.

The group dropped him off at a nearby fire station the following day but were caught twenty minutes later by members of the Met's Kidnap Unit.

Detective Inspector Steve Wagstaff, from the Kidnap Unit, said: "The nature and extent of the criminal network which was responsible for this violent kidnap, required the extensive co-operation of specialist units within the Met and working together we have brought these offenders to justice.

"The operation to rescue the hostage highlights our dedication to eradicating violent and threatening behaviour of this kind from the capital."

All four men were sentenced at Southwark Crown yesterday. Sukhdev Khakh, 29, of Walton-on-Thames, who is accused of masterminding the kidnapping was found guilty of conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy to false imprisonment and conspiracy of blackmail on December 19, last year, and will be sentenced on March 27.