Thursday 22 September 2011

Violent Kidnappers Jailed For Abduction Ordeal


Two kidnapers who subjected a terrified young man to a two-hour ordeal – beating and robbing him as he was driven around in the back of a van – have both been caged.

Taariq Fagan, 20, (pic.top) received ten years and his cousin Michael Fergus, 26, (pic.bottom) received six years.

On Friday September 10, last year the 23 year-old victim was sitting in his car in Brampton Road, Forest Hill, South-East London when he was approached by a gang who snatched his keys from the ignition. 



The man got out of his car, but was attacked by the group who forced him into a van.

He was driven around as the gang made calls to his friends demanding money. 



They robbed their victim of personal belongings and cash and continued to beat him.

The man finally escaped when the van stopped near Brenchley Gardens Park and he called the police. 



On Friday November 26 a 52 year-old man was delivering cigarettes to a store in Marble Arch, Marylebone when he was robbed.

He was pushed and threatened and the cigarettes loaded into the same blue van used in the Forest Hill kidnapping – later linked to Fagan, who was arrested on December 21 by Southwark’s Priority Crime Unit.

Evidence linking him to the crimes included a congestion charge receipt found at his home relating to the day of the kidnapping and the van, which was used in both offences.



His cousin Michael Fergus was arrested four weeks later on January 10. 2



Detective Constable Mark Hughes said: “This result means that two men, who have used fear and violence, have been removed from the streets.

“This was a challenging investigation which demonstrates the determination of the Metropolitan Police Service to bring such offenders to justice, and I hope it shows others like Fagan and Fergus who will use threats and violence to commit crime that they won't be tolerated.”

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