Group convicted of involvement in kidnap ordeal

Members of a group who kidnapped, force-fed, beat and sexually assaulted a man have been found guilty.

Reece Armstong, 29, and Tarelle Thompson, 28, were convicted of conspiracy to kidnap following a six-week trial at Guildford Crown Court.

Three others were involved in the kidnap of a 38-year-old man from his home in Dorking, Surrey, in April.

The victim was held at two properties in Reigate and Farnborough, with ransom demands made to his brother.

The victim was first taken to a Reigate address, where he was blindfolded and force fed. Two dogs were also agitated to cause him to fear that they would attack him, Surrey Police said.

At a second address in Farnborough, Hampshire, he was stabbed in the foot, sexually assaulted, burnt, whipped with a cable and forced to smoke a crack pipe.

His wounds were also spray painted to cause him further pain, police said.

The victim's brother told police that he received three calls the following day, including one where a man demanded "10 grand and a nine bar".

Officers later found the victim at the address in Farnborough.

Lorna Swyer, 20, of Dorking, had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap and common assault, and Sebastian Love, 21, from Merton, previously admitted conspiracy to kidnap.

Levi Burton, 30, from Leatherhead, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap, false imprisonment and assaulting a police officer, and was convicted of the sexual assault of a male following the trial.

Armstong, from Staines-upon-Thames, was also found guilty of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm and two counts of possession of an offensive weapon, while Thompson, from Croydon, was also found guilty of possession of an offensive weapon.

Det Ch Insp Kimball Edey said: "No one should have to endure the ordeal they had put him through."

He added that the group had been "brought to justice for their heinous actions".

The group are due to be sentenced in February.

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