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Six men sentenced for abduction Six men sentenced for abduction
(about 2 hours later)
A six-man gang involved in the abduction of a Glasgow shopkeeper last year have been sent to prison.A six-man gang involved in the abduction of a Glasgow shopkeeper last year have been sent to prison.
The men pleaded guilty to kidnapping Javed Mukhtar, 58, from his home in the south side of Glasgow in September last year and demanding a £2.5m ransom.The men pleaded guilty to kidnapping Javed Mukhtar, 58, from his home in the south side of Glasgow in September last year and demanding a £2.5m ransom.
Mr Mukhtar was handcuffed and held captive for three weeks in Manchester.Mr Mukhtar was handcuffed and held captive for three weeks in Manchester.
The jail sentences totalled almost 43 years and judge Lord Hodge said it was a "frightening, stressful and prolonged ordeal" for Mr Mukhtar.The jail sentences totalled almost 43 years and judge Lord Hodge said it was a "frightening, stressful and prolonged ordeal" for Mr Mukhtar.
Police said it was the longest running inquiry of its kind in Britain, involving 800 officers.Police said it was the longest running inquiry of its kind in Britain, involving 800 officers.
The High Court in Glasgow heard the gang bundled Mr Mukhtar into the back of a van before shooting at his son on 29 September.The High Court in Glasgow heard the gang bundled Mr Mukhtar into the back of a van before shooting at his son on 29 September.
GANG'S JAIL TERMS Darren Wright - 11 years, three monthsPeter Haining - 12 years, six monthsCraig Adams - four years, 10 monthsIan Rosales - three yearsDavid Smith - five years, three monthsLeslie White - six years Motive remains a mystery In pictures: Gang membersGANG'S JAIL TERMS Darren Wright - 11 years, three monthsPeter Haining - 12 years, six monthsCraig Adams - four years, 10 monthsIan Rosales - three yearsDavid Smith - five years, three monthsLeslie White - six years Motive remains a mystery In pictures: Gang members
Mr Mukhtar's captors warned his family that if the ransom was not paid he would be seriously injured, even murdered.Mr Mukhtar's captors warned his family that if the ransom was not paid he would be seriously injured, even murdered.
Detectives received a tip-off and the kidnappers were arrested after an undercover police officer left a suitcase containing £400,000 beside an emergency telephone on the M6 near Charnock Richard in Lancashire.Detectives received a tip-off and the kidnappers were arrested after an undercover police officer left a suitcase containing £400,000 beside an emergency telephone on the M6 near Charnock Richard in Lancashire.
Darren Wright, 31, a disqualified lorry driver of Thorn Close, Heywood, Lancashire, and ex-Royal Marine Peter Haining, 28, of the same address, were used as the brute force to help abduct Mr Mukhtar.Darren Wright, 31, a disqualified lorry driver of Thorn Close, Heywood, Lancashire, and ex-Royal Marine Peter Haining, 28, of the same address, were used as the brute force to help abduct Mr Mukhtar.
Different addressesDifferent addresses
Craig Adams, 23, of Boardman Lane, Bury, Lancashire, was the driver of the van which took Mr Mukhtar to captivity.Craig Adams, 23, of Boardman Lane, Bury, Lancashire, was the driver of the van which took Mr Mukhtar to captivity.
David Smith, 37, of Atholl Drive, Heywood, allowed his home to be used to keep Mr Mukhtar captive for several days before his release.David Smith, 37, of Atholl Drive, Heywood, allowed his home to be used to keep Mr Mukhtar captive for several days before his release.
Leslie White, 65, of Craigavon, County Armagh, did most of the negotiating for the ransom, and Ian Rosales, 19, of Thorn Close, Heywood, helped while the ransom was picked up.Leslie White, 65, of Craigavon, County Armagh, did most of the negotiating for the ransom, and Ian Rosales, 19, of Thorn Close, Heywood, helped while the ransom was picked up.
The court heard that the intended victim of the kidnapping was Mr Mukhtar's son, Bilal, 25, known as Billy.The court heard that the intended victim of the kidnapping was Mr Mukhtar's son, Bilal, 25, known as Billy.
During the abduction, Haining and Wright wore dark military-style clothing and balaclavas and were armed with Russian-made Baikal .38 automatics, fitted with silencers.During the abduction, Haining and Wright wore dark military-style clothing and balaclavas and were armed with Russian-made Baikal .38 automatics, fitted with silencers.
By the tone of the quite explicit demands, what we were dealing with were really determined criminals Det Supt Willie PrendergastBy the tone of the quite explicit demands, what we were dealing with were really determined criminals Det Supt Willie Prendergast
Mr Mukhtar was handcuffed and hooded for the journey to the Manchester area, where he was to spend the next three weeks in captivity at three different addresses.Mr Mukhtar was handcuffed and hooded for the journey to the Manchester area, where he was to spend the next three weeks in captivity at three different addresses.
He was eventually released by the gang and found by police in a distressed state in Warrington.He was eventually released by the gang and found by police in a distressed state in Warrington.
Det Supt Willie Prendergast, of Strathclyde Police, said: "It was a 25-day inquiry, by far the longest for a conventional kidnap in the United Kingdom.Det Supt Willie Prendergast, of Strathclyde Police, said: "It was a 25-day inquiry, by far the longest for a conventional kidnap in the United Kingdom.
"It was highly unusual in that the crime was committed in our area but the whole hub of the inquiry subsequently fell upon the Manchester area of England."It was highly unusual in that the crime was committed in our area but the whole hub of the inquiry subsequently fell upon the Manchester area of England.
"And indeed this was compounded as it triangulated over to Northern Ireland, where the person who actually made the demands was based.""And indeed this was compounded as it triangulated over to Northern Ireland, where the person who actually made the demands was based."
Breaking coverBreaking cover
The Police Service of Northern Ireland, Greater Manchester Police, Lancashire Constabulary, the Serious Organised Crime Agency and the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency helped to catch the plotters.The Police Service of Northern Ireland, Greater Manchester Police, Lancashire Constabulary, the Serious Organised Crime Agency and the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency helped to catch the plotters.
Det Supt Prendergast said: "By the tone of the quite explicit demands, what we were dealing with were really determined criminals. Quite frankly, the man's life was in the balance." Mr Prendergast said: "By the tone of the quite explicit demands, what we were dealing with were really determined criminals. Quite frankly, the man's life was in the balance."
The kidnappers were eventually arrested after being lured into breaking cover by a case containing £400,000, provided by Mr Mukhtar's family.The kidnappers were eventually arrested after being lured into breaking cover by a case containing £400,000, provided by Mr Mukhtar's family.
Det Supt Prendergast added: "They were being rather naive to believe we had not some handle on this. Mr Prendergast added: "They were being rather naive to believe we had not some handle on this.
"This was a pre-planned operation committed by desperadoes armed to the teeth and they were determined they were going to get vast amounts of money."This was a pre-planned operation committed by desperadoes armed to the teeth and they were determined they were going to get vast amounts of money.
"Mr Mukhtar was not physically tortured but the mental strain was phenomenal and the healing process is still not complete.""Mr Mukhtar was not physically tortured but the mental strain was phenomenal and the healing process is still not complete."
Detectives said the gang had "scant" links with Glasgow and stressed Mr Mukhtar was an "entirely innocent individual".Detectives said the gang had "scant" links with Glasgow and stressed Mr Mukhtar was an "entirely innocent individual".
Officers said they were still baffled as to why Mr Mukhtar's family had been targeted.Officers said they were still baffled as to why Mr Mukhtar's family had been targeted.