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Three men guilty of kidnap plot | Three men guilty of kidnap plot |
(41 minutes later) | |
Three men have been found guilty of their involvement in a kidnap plot which saw two London shop workers held hostage for a week. | Three men have been found guilty of their involvement in a kidnap plot which saw two London shop workers held hostage for a week. |
The victims were taken at gunpoint in Ladbroke Grove in August last year, Southwark Crown Court heard. | The victims were taken at gunpoint in Ladbroke Grove in August last year, Southwark Crown Court heard. |
Vergil Percival, 36, from north London, was found guilty of kidnap and one count of blackmail. | Vergil Percival, 36, from north London, was found guilty of kidnap and one count of blackmail. |
Thijseen Johns-Eliot, 28 and Jason Goode, 27, both from south London, were found guilty of false imprisonment. | Thijseen Johns-Eliot, 28 and Jason Goode, 27, both from south London, were found guilty of false imprisonment. |
Johns-Eliot was also found guilty on one count of blackmail, while Goode was cleared of a similar charge. | Johns-Eliot was also found guilty on one count of blackmail, while Goode was cleared of a similar charge. |
The victims were grabbed by a gang of six hooded men at the sports shop where they were working. | The victims were grabbed by a gang of six hooded men at the sports shop where they were working. |
They were handcuffed and bundled into separate cars while the shop they worked in was ransacked. | They were handcuffed and bundled into separate cars while the shop they worked in was ransacked. |
Lily Allen praised Scotland Yard after the men were freed | |
During their captivity at an address in Plumstead, south-east London, they were kicked and punched and regularly threatened with torture. | During their captivity at an address in Plumstead, south-east London, they were kicked and punched and regularly threatened with torture. |
They were released after a covert police operation after officers received an anonymous call. | They were released after a covert police operation after officers received an anonymous call. |
After the men were rescued, singer Lily Allen - who is a friend of one of the victims - wrote on her blog: "Thank you to the Met for getting my friend back, we were all terrified and from what I hear you guys did an amazing job." | After the men were rescued, singer Lily Allen - who is a friend of one of the victims - wrote on her blog: "Thank you to the Met for getting my friend back, we were all terrified and from what I hear you guys did an amazing job." |
Three others had already admitted playing a role in the plot. | Three others had already admitted playing a role in the plot. |
Joseph Hadji, 27, of Queen's Park, north-west London, pleaded guilty to two counts of kidnap and one of blackmail. | Joseph Hadji, 27, of Queen's Park, north-west London, pleaded guilty to two counts of kidnap and one of blackmail. |
Ashanti Kumpati, 29, of Thamesmead, and Paul Wigan, 29, of Milford Towers, Thomas Lane, Catford, each pleaded guilty to two counts of false imprisonment and bribery. | Ashanti Kumpati, 29, of Thamesmead, and Paul Wigan, 29, of Milford Towers, Thomas Lane, Catford, each pleaded guilty to two counts of false imprisonment and bribery. |
Police still want to trace five other men who they suspect were involved in the plot. | Police still want to trace five other men who they suspect were involved in the plot. |
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