Three jailed over failed kidnap plot

Three men have been jailed for an "extremely well-planned" plot to kidnap a man.

Their plan only failed when the owner of an Airbnb in Goxhill, Lincolnshire, used by the plotters, became suspicious and called police on 28 January 2025.

She believed a young couple with a child had rented the village property.

On Friday, Anthony Andjole, David Glen-Meade and Michael McDonald were jailed at Hull Crown Court for conspiracy to kidnap.

Judge Mark Bury told the defendants: "I am satisfied, on the evidence, that the only reason the kidnap did not take place is because the police intervened."

The judge said officers, who thought they were attending a burglary, found a pistol with seven bullets and a kidnap kit in bedrooms at the Airbnb.

Bury said an organised crime group had "set about hatching a plan" to kidnap a Hull man in order to retrieve drugs or the "monetary value of them".

Andjole was said to be the "fixer" of the crime group, based in Holland, and flew to England to orchestrate the kidnap with accomplices.

The judge said Andjole had recruited Glen-Meade as his "soldier". Glen-Meade was to be paid £10,000 for his part in the plot, the judge said.

McDonald's DNA was found on the pistol, said Bury, and he was "satisfied" the defendant had tried to conceal it in the Airbnb.

The kidnap kit included rope, cable ties, tape, gloves, hammer, nail and mask.

"It's clear, therefore, that this was an extremely well-planned enterprise," said Bury.

The judge said there was evidence of a "reconnaissance trip" to the intended victim's home in Hull.

Glen-Meade, 33, of Home Close, Leicester, was previously found guilty of conspiracy to kidnap. He was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Andjole, 30, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to conspiracy to kidnap and having a firearm/imitation with intent. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

McDonald, 54, of Acacia Road, Doncaster, pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to conspiracy to kidnap and having a firearm/imitation with intent. He was sentenced to nine years in prison.

All three men were also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £228.

Two others, Indiana Smith, 22, and Chloe Brooks, 34, each pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to participating in activities of an organised crime group.

Smith, of Flint Road, Newark, was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for two years. She was also ordered to complete 20 days' rehabilitation and pay a victim surcharge of £154.

Brooks, of Broom Hill Drive, Doncaster, was given a two-year community order. She was ordered to complete 25 days' rehabilitation and pay a £114 victim surcharge.

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