Video: Gang jailed for 'honey trap' kidnap plot

9:31am Tuesday 6th May 2008

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THREE men - two from Lewisham and one from Welling - have been jailed for plotting to kidnap a businessman.

Patrick Holland, aged 69, of Russett Way, Lewisham, was sentenced to eight years in prison for conspiracy to kidnap.

John McDonnell, aged 45, of Russett Way, Lewisham, was given an eight-year sentence for the same offence and seven years for importing Class C drugs - which he will serve consecutively.

Simon Young, aged 39, of Central Avenue, Welling, was sentenced to a total of 11 years in jail - six years for conspiracy to kidnap and five years for possession of firearms.

He was also given a three-year concurrent sentence for possession of ammunition.

Two other members of the gang, hired to kidnap the director of a Chiswick-based international trading company, were also sentenced on Friday (May 2).

They had all earlier been found guilty of the charges after a five-week trial at Blackfriars Crown Court.

Lorry driver Gerard Booth, aged 47, from County Down, Northern Ireland, was sentenced to seven years in jail for conspiracy to kidnap.

And a 24-year old woman, Khan Coombs, of no fixed address, was sentenced to four years for the same offence.

The court heard ringleader Holland met a Belgian man at a Holiday Inn near Bristol Airport, where he was given an envelope containing an unknown quantity of Euros, on April 12 last year.

The court heard this money was paid to Holland to organise the kidnapping - because of a believed dispute between criminal gangs.

Jurors also heard that lorry drivers McDonnell, Booth and Young were instructed to snatch the hostage.

Coombs became involved at a later stage - to act as a "honey trap" to lure the victim to a place from where he could be kidnapped.

Young was arrested as he drove to the victim's business premises on May 1.

He was carrying a revolver tucked into the waistband of his trousers and three rounds of ammunition in a shirt pocket.

Watch video of Young being arrested - click here

Armed officers arrested Booth and Coombs on the Chelsea Embankment and found balaclavas inside the Volvo they were driving.

McDonnell was arrested at the Hotel Angela in Shepherds Bush Road, where the gang had been staying.

Officers caught Holland at a travel agent in Lewisham High Street where he was booking a flight to Rome.

He was carrying £6,000 in cash at the time - £5,000 of which was in Euros.