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Boy 'kidnapped by New York gang' Boy 'kidnapped by New York gang'
(about 4 hours later)
A 10-year-old boy was kidnapped from his home at gunpoint by a gang of New Yorkers, Middlesex Crown Court heard.A 10-year-old boy was kidnapped from his home at gunpoint by a gang of New Yorkers, Middlesex Crown Court heard.
A £100,000 ransom was made for the boy who was found unharmed 36 hours later.A £100,000 ransom was made for the boy who was found unharmed 36 hours later.
Dawn Fields and her half brother Jeriah Simpson, both of Navy Street, Clapham, south London, deny kidnap, false imprisonment and blackmail. Dawn Fields and her half-brother Jeriah Simpson, both of Navy Street, Clapham, south London, deny kidnap, false imprisonment and blackmail.
Three others - Gadell Gibbs, 24, Edwin Phillip, 22, and Damien Francis, 24, all from Brooklyn, New York, US - admit kidnap and false imprisonment.Three others - Gadell Gibbs, 24, Edwin Phillip, 22, and Damien Francis, 24, all from Brooklyn, New York, US - admit kidnap and false imprisonment.
'Gagged and blindfolded''Gagged and blindfolded'
Jurors heard the gang burst into the boy's home in Walthamstow, east London, in February this year.Jurors heard the gang burst into the boy's home in Walthamstow, east London, in February this year.
Alisdair Williamson, prosecuting, said: "They were armed with two imitation guns and a meat cleaver, and bound the youngster's mother hand and foot and gagged her."Alisdair Williamson, prosecuting, said: "They were armed with two imitation guns and a meat cleaver, and bound the youngster's mother hand and foot and gagged her."
He said that despite searching the place for cash, they could find no trace of it and decided to kidnap the child instead.He said that despite searching the place for cash, they could find no trace of it and decided to kidnap the child instead.
Forcing the youngster to kiss his mother goodbye, his American captors then drove him to a flat in Victoria, central London, where he was locked in the bathroom. Forcing the youngster to kiss his mother goodbye, his American captors then drove him to a flat on the Peabody estate in central London, where he was locked in the bathroom.
"[His mother] was left bound, gagged and blindfolded and warned not to contact the police because the house was still being watched," said Mr Williamson."[His mother] was left bound, gagged and blindfolded and warned not to contact the police because the house was still being watched," said Mr Williamson.
The prosecution alleged Dawn Fields, the mastermind behind the operation, then demanded £100,000 to ensure the boy's safe return.The prosecution alleged Dawn Fields, the mastermind behind the operation, then demanded £100,000 to ensure the boy's safe return.
Negotiations lasted for 36 hours, in which time police were able to track her down and free the boy.Negotiations lasted for 36 hours, in which time police were able to track her down and free the boy.
Mr Williamson said the child's ordeal began when £300,000, which had been wired from the US by Ms Fields' partner, Adonis Perez, was apparently stolen.Mr Williamson said the child's ordeal began when £300,000, which had been wired from the US by Ms Fields' partner, Adonis Perez, was apparently stolen.
'Underworld cash''Underworld cash'
Ms Field's investigations identified Sheldon Stone, who was involved in the transfer of cash and knew the boy's family, as the suspect.Ms Field's investigations identified Sheldon Stone, who was involved in the transfer of cash and knew the boy's family, as the suspect.
She mistakenly thought he was living with the boy and his mother and when earlier attempts to lure him to a meeting failed, she resorted to kidnap, the court heard.She mistakenly thought he was living with the boy and his mother and when earlier attempts to lure him to a meeting failed, she resorted to kidnap, the court heard.
During a police interview Ms Fields admitted investigating the disappearance of the cash which she claimed had "come from the underworld".During a police interview Ms Fields admitted investigating the disappearance of the cash which she claimed had "come from the underworld".
Mr Williamson said the "physical and forensic evidence against her and Mr Simpson is clear and compelling".Mr Williamson said the "physical and forensic evidence against her and Mr Simpson is clear and compelling".
Later the boy's ordeal was played to the court via a video-taped interview.Later the boy's ordeal was played to the court via a video-taped interview.
He told how a man "dressed as a postman" knocked on the front door. He said his mum went outside and then he heard screaming.He told how a man "dressed as a postman" knocked on the front door. He said his mum went outside and then he heard screaming.
"She saw two men with tape and stuff and they were hurting my mum," he said. Then they brought her inside the house, trying to calm her down. They showed us axes and stuff.""She saw two men with tape and stuff and they were hurting my mum," he said. Then they brought her inside the house, trying to calm her down. They showed us axes and stuff."
'Heard an explosion''Heard an explosion'
He described how the gang then began ransacking the place "looking for something".He described how the gang then began ransacking the place "looking for something".
He said when his mum told them there was nothing in the house they told her they were going to tape her up and that if anyone came to the house not to tell them anything.He said when his mum told them there was nothing in the house they told her they were going to tape her up and that if anyone came to the house not to tell them anything.
"They said they were going to take me somewhere. They stopped and had guns behind the car. We drove and the next minute we were somewhere else," he said."They said they were going to take me somewhere. They stopped and had guns behind the car. We drove and the next minute we were somewhere else," he said.
He said the gang blindfolded him and then the day after they put him in a bathroom because a girl was coming in.He said the gang blindfolded him and then the day after they put him in a bathroom because a girl was coming in.
"That was when I heard an explosion and the police came in," he said."That was when I heard an explosion and the police came in," he said.
The case continues.The case continues.