Kidnap Gunmen Jailed

Two gun-toting kidnappers who bundled their 50 year-old victim into the back of a stolen van at a drug meeting – robbing and pistol-whipping him – were locked up for a total of eighteen years.

They were part of a five-man gang who snatched Jamaican Alston Robertson off the street in Connaught Road, Harlesden, on November 13, 2008, but were stopped by uniformed police for driving without lights.

Gunman Shaul Toney, 25, of Donnington Court, Donnington Road, Harlesden, was sentenced to a total of ten years imprisonment at Inner London Crown Court (pictured).

His accomplice, 21 year-old Ezekiel Burton, of Pippin Close, Neasden, received a total of eight years imprisonment.

“An organized kidnap, as this was, at gunpoint in relation to drugs is an act of gangsterism,” Judge Austin Issard-Davies told the duo.

Both men denied, but were convicted following a ten-day trial of kidnapping Mr. Robertson and robbing him of cash, keys and his mobile phone.

They were also both convicted of possessing a fully loaded 9mm automatic pistol, with intent to commit an indictable offence and possessing ammunition without a firearms certificate.

The trial heard Mr. Robertson confess to agreeing to meet Toney to buy a modest amount of cannabis, but found himself forced into the rear of the Mercedes van at gunpoint.

Inside he was pistol-whipped by Toney and robbed of an estimated £200 cash, plus other items and £5,000 was demanded.

Uniformed police on routine patrol pulled the van over for driving without lights in nearby Acton Lane and five men fled the scene in different directions.

Officers caught and arrested Toney, who tried to hide the gun in a front garden, and Burton was later identified via forensics from clothing he removed while making his escape.

The other three members of the gang have never been identified.

“The rendezvous was in relation to drug business. That is what you were sorting out when you met that night,” said Judge Issard-Davies.

“This is a very grave series of offences, the kidnap was on the face of it only intended to be for a short period of time for the immediate extraction of money.

“You were in possession of a fully-loaded 9mm automatic firearm and you, Toney, were the prime mover in this case.”

The court heard Toney has previously served eighteen months for robbery and has convictions for drug offences, assault and having a dangerous fighting dog.

Burton had only been freed from custody eleven days before the offence and has convictions for burglary, possessing an imitation firearm, shoplifting, assault and drug possession.

During the trial Toney claimed he was the victim of a kidnap plot hatched by Mr. Robertson and his lawyer Mr. David Jones said: “The firearm was not discharged and it was over shortly due to incompetence and the police being on the scene in a short time.”

Burton maintained he was never involved and his lawyer Mr. Shaun Wallace said: “Hanging around with a negative peer group has led to more and more trouble.”

The Judge refused to deem the defendants “dangerous” and therefore not subject to greater punishment.

“Toney may have chosen to solve a problem, probably a commercial one in relation to drugs, in this way, but I do not see that he does this on a regular basis.”

Both defendants were sentenced to the minimum five-year term for possessing a firearm, with intent, and Toney was given two years for kidnapping plus three years for robbery to run consecutively.

Burton was given one year for kidnapping and two years for robbery to run consecutively and both received concurrent twelve-month terms for possessing ammunition.

Afterwards Detective Constable Tanya Fyffe, of Brent’s Violent Crime Unit said: “The sentences are fair. It sends out a clear message that people involved in drugs and these types of violent offences will be dealt with robustly.

“We will always support the victims of violent crime.”