SEVEN men have been jailed for a total of more than 37 years for the kidnapping of a 23-year-old man.

In May last year the victim was driving down Quince Road, Greenwich, with his 22-year-old friend Christian Wanyanga.

The car was stopped by a group of men who bundled the victim into the back of his own car and drove it to an address in Ashburnham Place, Greenwich.

Woolwich Crown Court heard the group, including Wanyanga, then tied the man up and threatened him with a knife and gun demanding a large amount of cash.

But the kidnappers did not realise the victim had dialled 999 using a mobile phone left on the floor.

News Shopper: Top: Leo Charles, Joshua Adediji, Jerome Barnes, Ola Ogunnusi. Bottom: Elvis Kibolokele, Junior Udoji, Christian Wanyanga, Ryan Elliot

Ola Ogunnusi, aged 19, of Ashburnham Place, Greenwich; Elvis Kibolokele, aged 19, of Harrison Way, Greenwich, and Wanyanga, of Commonwealth Way, Abbey Wood, were each sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to kidnap and false imprisonment.

While Jerome Barnes, aged 20, of Trevithick Drive, Dartford, was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to kidnap and false imprisonment.

Two 23-year-old men Leo Charles, of Bramblebury Road, Woolwich, and Joshua Adediji, of Westcombe Court, Greenwich, were also jailed.

Charles was sentenced to nine years in prison after being found guilty of kidnap and false imprisonment while Adediji was sentenced to eight years after being found guilty of kidnap, false imprisonment and possession of an imitation firearm.

Ryan Elliot, 21 of no fixed address was sentenced to four months in prison after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice.

And an eighth man, 21-year-old Junior Udoji, of Ulundi Road, Greenwich, pleaded guilty to kidnap and false imprisonment and will be sentenced on November 19.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy McDonald, from the Met Police’s violent and organised crime unit, said: “This was an organised and callous crime led by individuals who were simply driven by their greed and the opportunity to perpetuate their criminal lifestyles.

“The significant custodial sentences reinforce the partnership message that serious and organised criminal activity will not be tolerated within the borough of Greenwich".