Ramsgate Kidnap Gangs Jailed for Terrorising Victim’s Family
Brutal Kidnap Sparks £17,000 Ransom Demand
Three men have been locked up for kidnapping a man in his 20s in Ramsgate and demanding thousands in ransom. On Wednesday, 23 October 2019, the victim vanished before his family got a chilling call. The kidnappers claimed he owed a £17,000 debt and threatened to kill him if they didn’t get paid.
Throughout terrifying phone calls, the man’s pain was clearly heard in the background, exposing the brutality of his captors.
Family Forced to Hand Over £2,000 in Desperate Bid for Safety
The terrified family were ordered to withdraw £2,000 from a relative’s bank account. The cash was then snatched from them in a Ramsgate car park. The kidnappers made further ransom demands over the next 24 hours, prompting the family to call kent.police.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="Kent Police" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Kent Police.
Kent Police Launch Serious Crime Investigation
The Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate swung into action. After receiving a tip-off about the victim being shoved into the boot of a BMW near Margate Road, officers tracked down and arrested 23-year-old Reece Stovell on 25 October.
Shortly after midnight on 26 October, police stopped another car carrying the victim and two accomplices: 22-year-old Elliot Cocks and 24-year-old Marco Bondzie. The victim was found with deep cuts and heavy bruising, held against his will in the vehicle.
Officers seized two lock knives and mobile phones linking the trio directly to the ransom calls.
Three Men Sent Down in Ramsgate Court
Bondzie from Cannonbury Road, Cocks of Prices Avenue, and Stovell from Princess Margaret Avenue all pleaded guilty at Canterbury Crown Court. On 19 March 2020, they received a combined sentence of 22 years behind bars. Bondzie got nine years, Cocks eight, and Stovell five.
“To plan and carry out a kidnap, including the assault of the victim, is unusual here in Kent and it shows just how vile these men are,” said Detective Chief Inspector Gavin Moss.
“I cannot begin to imagine the terror the victim’s family must have experienced when they realised a loved one was in such danger.”
“Thankfully, our specialist teams acted swiftly to recover the victim safely. I hope the family can now start to rebuild their lives, knowing these criminals are behind bars.”
