Gang of kidnappers get jail terms

The men were traced via the mobile phone they used to demand a ransom

A gang of kidnappers who held a man for 23 hours have been given jail terms ranging from four to eight years.

Mohsin Patel, 26, a manager at a mobile phone store, was snatched in Plaistow, east London, in April last year.

He was tortured and a ransom of £70,000 was demanded, but police traced his captors via their mobile phone.

Six men from east London, aged 19-25, all admitted or were convicted of charges relating to kidnap and false imprisonment, at Southwark Crown Court.

Andrew Boateng, 21, from Plaistow, and Yaw Darko-Kwakye, 25, from Canning Town were sentenced to eight years and six-and-a-half years respectively for kidnap, false imprisonment and blackmail.

Mohammed Nawaz, 25, from East Ham, and Douglas Poku, 22, from Ilford, were jailed for six years and five-and-a-half years respectively for conspiracy to kidnap, falsely imprison and blackmail Mr Patel.

Benjamin Boakye, 19, and Adnan Kyani, 20, both from East Ham, were both sentenced to four years' detention for the same three charges.