30 year old Reece Armstong from Staines and 28 year old Tarelle Thompson from Croydon, were found guilty of conspiracy to kidnap following a six-week trial in December 2025.

Armstrong was also found guilty of Section 18 assault occasioning grievous bodily harm with intent and two counts of possession of an offensive weapon.

Thompson was further found guilty of possession of an offensive weapon.

21 year old Lorna Swyer from Dorking, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap and common assault, while 21 year old Sebastian Love from Merton, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap.

· Reece Armstrong has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment consecutive to an unrelated sentence of five years that was imposed in July 2025.
· Tarelle Thompson has received nine years imprisonment and five years on license.
· Lorna Swyer has received three years and four months imprisonment.
· Sebastian Love has been given three years and four months imprisonment.

31 year old Levi Burton from Leatherhead, was found guilty of sexual assault following the trial and he had already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap, false imprisonment and assaulting a police officer.

He has received 12 years imprisonment and five years on license. He will also be on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

An investigation was launched by the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team after they received a call from a neighbour of the victim, a 38-year-old man in April last year.

The neighbour said that the victim had been kidnapped by two or three men wearing balaclavas. He was taken to an address in Reigate, where he was blindfolded, force-fed and two dogs at the property were agitated to make him fearful that they would attack him.

The victim was then taken to an address in Farnborough in Hampshire where he was subjected to a prolonged assault and sexual assault.

The following day the victim’s brother received a number of calls making demands to secure the victim’s release.

Around 4.30pm the same day, officers from Hampshire Constabulary located the victim at the address in Farnborough.

Burton, Swyer, Thompson and Armstrong were subsequently arrested and charged.

Enquiries by the investigation team identified Love as making the demand calls. He was subsequently arrested and charged.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Kimball Edey, said: “As soon as we became aware that a kidnap had taken place, officers worked at pace to locate the victim as quickly as possible.

“He was located the day after he’d been kidnapped, and had been subjected to what amounted to torture at the hands of Armstrong, Burton, Love, Swyer and Thompson. No one should have to endure the ordeal they had put him through and the sentencing today has ensured they will spend a long time in prison, where they belong.”