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| EastEnders' Gemma McCluskie murder: Man jailed for threats | EastEnders' Gemma McCluskie murder: Man jailed for threats |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| A man who claimed to have kidnapped a former EastEnders actress, later found to have been murdered by her brother, has been jailed for six months. | A man who claimed to have kidnapped a former EastEnders actress, later found to have been murdered by her brother, has been jailed for six months. |
| Sam Dunne, 19 of Greenhithe, Kent, admitted calling Gemma McCluskie's two brothers when she was missing saying he had her and demanded a ransom of £2m. | Sam Dunne, 19 of Greenhithe, Kent, admitted calling Gemma McCluskie's two brothers when she was missing saying he had her and demanded a ransom of £2m. |
| He made some of the demands to Tony McCluskie, who was later jailed for a minimum of 20 years for killing her. | He made some of the demands to Tony McCluskie, who was later jailed for a minimum of 20 years for killing her. |
| The actress's torso was found in Regent's Canal, Hackney, last March. | The actress's torso was found in Regent's Canal, Hackney, last March. |
| She was killed by being hit over the head at least twice and her body was hacked into six pieces using a cleaver and a knife. | She was killed by being hit over the head at least twice and her body was hacked into six pieces using a cleaver and a knife. |
| The 29-year-old actress played Kerry Skinner, Ethel Skinner's great-niece, in the BBC soap in 2000 and 2001. | The 29-year-old actress played Kerry Skinner, Ethel Skinner's great-niece, in the BBC soap in 2000 and 2001. |
| Locked room | Locked room |
| Warehouse worker Dunne had initially denied four counts of sending messages that were "grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character" but later changed his plea. | Warehouse worker Dunne had initially denied four counts of sending messages that were "grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character" but later changed his plea. |
| He was sentenced at Medway Magistrates' Court. | He was sentenced at Medway Magistrates' Court. |
| Dunne made the threats after the actress was reported missing and her family launched an appeal to find her. | Dunne made the threats after the actress was reported missing and her family launched an appeal to find her. |
| Seeing phone numbers for both of Miss McCluskie's brothers on a poster, Dunne first called Tony McCluskie, 36 of Shoreditch, saying if the family wanted to see the actress again they needed to take £2m to Benfleet International Station. | Seeing phone numbers for both of Miss McCluskie's brothers on a poster, Dunne first called Tony McCluskie, 36 of Shoreditch, saying if the family wanted to see the actress again they needed to take £2m to Benfleet International Station. |
| In the second call he requested more money in what he called "Iraqi dollars", and in the third call made two minutes later he repeated the initial demand for £2m. | In the second call he requested more money in what he called "Iraqi dollars", and in the third call made two minutes later he repeated the initial demand for £2m. |
| When McCluskie asked to speak to her, Dunne said she was in a locked room and had been stripped and sexually assaulted. | When McCluskie asked to speak to her, Dunne said she was in a locked room and had been stripped and sexually assaulted. |
| The conversations were on speaker phone and were heard by several friends who had gathered at her flat to help search for her. | |
| 'Torment family' | 'Torment family' |
| Danny McCluskie, her other brother, also received a call with the same demands. More were made but he did not answer his phone. | Danny McCluskie, her other brother, also received a call with the same demands. More were made but he did not answer his phone. |
| The caller's number had been withheld but police were able to trace it. | The caller's number had been withheld but police were able to trace it. |
| Investigating officer, acting Det Ch Insp John Nicholson, said: "Dunne acted despicably, temporarily giving hope to Gemma's many friends and family that she was indeed still alive. | Investigating officer, acting Det Ch Insp John Nicholson, said: "Dunne acted despicably, temporarily giving hope to Gemma's many friends and family that she was indeed still alive. |
| "It's hard to imagine how anyone could think it was a good 'joke' to torment a family going through such an incredibly difficult time in this way. | "It's hard to imagine how anyone could think it was a good 'joke' to torment a family going through such an incredibly difficult time in this way. |
| "Of course Tony McCluskie - who we now know had already murdered his sister - must have thought his luck was in as Dunne was providing him with an alibi." | "Of course Tony McCluskie - who we now know had already murdered his sister - must have thought his luck was in as Dunne was providing him with an alibi." |