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| Trio locked up for Israeli record producer kidnap ambush | Trio locked up for Israeli record producer kidnap ambush |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Watch the moment three kidnappers were found hiding in a field and arrested after trying to abduct a record producer | Watch the moment three kidnappers were found hiding in a field and arrested after trying to abduct a record producer |
| Three men lured a record producer to an isolated cottage in a botched kidnap attempt due to his Israeli heritage, a court heard. | Three men lured a record producer to an isolated cottage in a botched kidnap attempt due to his Israeli heritage, a court heard. |
| The kidnappers were motivated by political and religious reasons, as well as money, when they posed as representatives of Polydor Records to target Itay Kashti, Swansea Crown Court heard. | The kidnappers were motivated by political and religious reasons, as well as money, when they posed as representatives of Polydor Records to target Itay Kashti, Swansea Crown Court heard. |
| Mr Kashti said the attack on him, as an Israeli, felt like his "own personal October 7th", a reference to the large-scale attack launched by Hamas on Israel in 2023. | Mr Kashti said the attack on him, as an Israeli, felt like his "own personal October 7th", a reference to the large-scale attack launched by Hamas on Israel in 2023. |
| Mohammad Comrie, 23, from Leeds, Faiz Shah, 23, from Bradford, and Elijah Ogunnubi-Sime, 20, from Wallington, London, pleaded guilty to kidnap and each received a custodial sentence of eight years and one month. | Mohammad Comrie, 23, from Leeds, Faiz Shah, 23, from Bradford, and Elijah Ogunnubi-Sime, 20, from Wallington, London, pleaded guilty to kidnap and each received a custodial sentence of eight years and one month. |
| Shah and Comrie will both be jailed while Ogunnubi-Sime was sent to a young offender institution. | Shah and Comrie will both be jailed while Ogunnubi-Sime was sent to a young offender institution. |
| The trio created a "shopping list" of items for the kidnap plot, including face masks, gloves, a gag, rental cars and a suitable rental location for the kidnap to take place. | The trio created a "shopping list" of items for the kidnap plot, including face masks, gloves, a gag, rental cars and a suitable rental location for the kidnap to take place. |
| Judge Catherine Richards called the list "chilling" and "clearly intended to create fear of violence". | Judge Catherine Richards called the list "chilling" and "clearly intended to create fear of violence". |
| "Mr Kashti was targeted due to his Jewish heritage," with the kidnappers "motivated by events taking place elsewhere in the world," the judge added. | "Mr Kashti was targeted due to his Jewish heritage," with the kidnappers "motivated by events taking place elsewhere in the world," the judge added. |
| "He was an entirely innocent, hard-working music producer that you had identified as a victim based on your understanding of his wealth and his Jewish heritage," she said. | |
| Elijah Ogunnubi-Sime (left), Mohammad Comrie (centre) and Faiz Shah (right) admitted kidnap charges after targeting Itay Kashti | Elijah Ogunnubi-Sime (left), Mohammad Comrie (centre) and Faiz Shah (right) admitted kidnap charges after targeting Itay Kashti |
| On 14 August 2024, Mr Kashti was emailed by a man calling himself Lucas Winslow and claiming to work for Polydor, inviting him to a "music recording camp" in rural Wales. | On 14 August 2024, Mr Kashti was emailed by a man calling himself Lucas Winslow and claiming to work for Polydor, inviting him to a "music recording camp" in rural Wales. |
| Prosecutor Craig Jones told the court it was the start of "careful and elaborate" plan which was discussed in "minute detail" by Comrie, Shah and Ogunnubi-Sime over the Telegram messaging app. | Prosecutor Craig Jones told the court it was the start of "careful and elaborate" plan which was discussed in "minute detail" by Comrie, Shah and Ogunnubi-Sime over the Telegram messaging app. |
| Mr Jones said the ultimate aim was "the kidnap of the complainant". | Mr Jones said the ultimate aim was "the kidnap of the complainant". |
| Handcuffs and cable ties were taken to the cottage in Brynteg, Ceredigion, by the three men, who also tried to source ketamine to drug their victim. | Handcuffs and cable ties were taken to the cottage in Brynteg, Ceredigion, by the three men, who also tried to source ketamine to drug their victim. |
| The three men hoped to extort money from Mr Kashti "who they perceived to be a wealthy individual", but Mr Jones said there was "clear political and religious motivation" because of his nationality. | The three men hoped to extort money from Mr Kashti "who they perceived to be a wealthy individual", but Mr Jones said there was "clear political and religious motivation" because of his nationality. |
| In one conversation it was said: "All three of us have complete 100% faith in Allah so we can't fail." | In one conversation it was said: "All three of us have complete 100% faith in Allah so we can't fail." |
| Cryptocurrency arrangements were also discussed in order to launder the funds obtained during the kidnap and potential escape routes were considered. | Cryptocurrency arrangements were also discussed in order to launder the funds obtained during the kidnap and potential escape routes were considered. |
| Police recovered this air pistol from the rural cottage where the gang held their victim | Police recovered this air pistol from the rural cottage where the gang held their victim |
| The original property chosen was booked, so the defendants decided to rent the Gatehouse for a week with an online booking made in the name of a stolen identity. | The original property chosen was booked, so the defendants decided to rent the Gatehouse for a week with an online booking made in the name of a stolen identity. |
| The three had also fraudulently obtained stolen bank details. | The three had also fraudulently obtained stolen bank details. |
| A taxi was booked on 26 August to collect Mr Kashti from his London home using a mobile phone registered to an unknown third party that was found in the Gatehouse. | A taxi was booked on 26 August to collect Mr Kashti from his London home using a mobile phone registered to an unknown third party that was found in the Gatehouse. |
| Both the taxi operator and driver Mohammad Amowar were "innocent parties and as much duped as the complainant". | Both the taxi operator and driver Mohammad Amowar were "innocent parties and as much duped as the complainant". |
| Police recovered rubber masks which the kidnappers bought as part of a kidnap "shopping list" | Police recovered rubber masks which the kidnappers bought as part of a kidnap "shopping list" |
| On arrival at the property, Mr Kashti and Mr Amowar realised they had walked into a "well laid trap." and were attacked immediately. | On arrival at the property, Mr Kashti and Mr Amowar realised they had walked into a "well laid trap." and were attacked immediately. |
| Mr Kashti was attacked by the three wearing "anonymous-style" face masks while Mr Amowar was hit in the face but managed to escape through the front door. | Mr Kashti was attacked by the three wearing "anonymous-style" face masks while Mr Amowar was hit in the face but managed to escape through the front door. |
| Mr Kashti was punched and kicked, suffering injuries to his face and head, and handcuffed to a radiator before being told he "would be killed" if he tried to escape. | Mr Kashti was punched and kicked, suffering injuries to his face and head, and handcuffed to a radiator before being told he "would be killed" if he tried to escape. |
| Itay Kashti was attacked and tied to a radiator in this cottage, but managed to escape | Itay Kashti was attacked and tied to a radiator in this cottage, but managed to escape |
| But the record producer managed to free himself by lifting his hands "up and off the pipe" and ran out of the property, still wearing the handcuffs. | But the record producer managed to free himself by lifting his hands "up and off the pipe" and ran out of the property, still wearing the handcuffs. |
| He hid in nearby bushes and phoned his wife, who called the police, as did Mr Amowar. | He hid in nearby bushes and phoned his wife, who called the police, as did Mr Amowar. |
| Mr Kashti suffered swollen and bruised eyelids, a swollen nose and bruising to his back, knees and leg and a cut to the scalp. | Mr Kashti suffered swollen and bruised eyelids, a swollen nose and bruising to his back, knees and leg and a cut to the scalp. |
| The kidnappers fled but were found by police that evening hiding in a nearby field, while a search of the house uncovered an air pistol and bleach. | The kidnappers fled but were found by police that evening hiding in a nearby field, while a search of the house uncovered an air pistol and bleach. |
| While hiding, Ogunnubi-Sime was in contact with an unknown individual who he tried to "direct" so he could be "transported away". | While hiding, Ogunnubi-Sime was in contact with an unknown individual who he tried to "direct" so he could be "transported away". |
| In a victim impact statement, Mr Kashti said he felt "shock and fear" and was thinking of his Jewish ancestors who had experienced the Holocaust. | In a victim impact statement, Mr Kashti said he felt "shock and fear" and was thinking of his Jewish ancestors who had experienced the Holocaust. |
| He said he suffered from anxiety and now "felt uncomfortable and unsafe". | He said he suffered from anxiety and now "felt uncomfortable and unsafe". |
| Balbir Singh, representing Shah, admitted the plot was "not very well planned and went wrong immediately" but his client felt "regret and remorse". | Balbir Singh, representing Shah, admitted the plot was "not very well planned and went wrong immediately" but his client felt "regret and remorse". |
| Roderick Jones representing Comrie admitted the plot had been "highly amateurish in its execution" and he felt "genuine remorse". | Roderick Jones representing Comrie admitted the plot had been "highly amateurish in its execution" and he felt "genuine remorse". |
| Waheed Barber said Ogunnubi-Sime was a "good, generous individual" and he was a "redeemable character". | Waheed Barber said Ogunnubi-Sime was a "good, generous individual" and he was a "redeemable character". |
| Mr Kashti was held with cable ties, but escaped and managed to call his wife, who contacted the police | Mr Kashti was held with cable ties, but escaped and managed to call his wife, who contacted the police |
| Michael Cray of the Crown Prosecution Service said: "This must have been truly terrifying for the two victims, who had no idea they were walking into a trap. | Michael Cray of the Crown Prosecution Service said: "This must have been truly terrifying for the two victims, who had no idea they were walking into a trap. |
| "We would like to thank them for supporting this prosecution and hope the fact these offenders have been brought to justice will help them move forward with their lives." | "We would like to thank them for supporting this prosecution and hope the fact these offenders have been brought to justice will help them move forward with their lives." |