Three men have been sentenced to a total of over 28 years in prison for their roles in a kidnapping, blackmail, and intimidation plot aimed at extorting money from a victim in Luton. Dominic Croucher, 28, Jamie Williams, 40, and Paul Morrell, 39, all pleaded guilty to the series of offences that unfolded in September of last year.
The plot began on the evening of 3 September 2023, when the victim was walking along Havelock Road in Luton. He was suddenly assaulted by Williams and another man, who attempted to drag him into a waiting white van. Williams also tried to handcuff the victim, but he fought back, managing to escape with the help of bystanders. The attackers fled the scene, leaving behind the handcuffs, which were later linked to both Williams and Morrell through DNA analysis.
Using CCTV and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), police identified Croucher as the driver of the white van. They discovered that he had traveled from Swansea the day before, staying overnight in Hemel Hempstead. Further investigation revealed that the van’s number plates had been switched after the attempted kidnapping, and the key to the handcuffs was found at Williams’ home in Doncaster. Additionally, a white Mercedes rented by Morrell had been spotted in a convoy with the van.
The following week, on 11 September, the victim received threatening messages via social media demanding money, with images showing that the men had been watching him and his family. The IP address was traced to Morrell’s home, and a router was seized from his property.
Later that week, Williams and Morrell were seen near the victim’s home setting his fence and garden shed on fire, further escalating their campaign of intimidation. Investigations also revealed that the three men had been in regular contact, discussing their plans and the financial gain they expected from their criminal actions.
Croucher and Williams were arrested on 15 September, with Morrell taken into custody three days later. At Luton Crown Court, all three men admitted conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to blackmail. In her sentencing, Judge Hunter KC described the trio as dangerous offenders and labeled their actions as organized criminal activity.
Detective Constable Daniel Matcham from Bedfordshire Police’s Crime Investigation Department said, “This was a prolonged and escalating series of events, where the offenders used serious violence and intimidation in an attempt to extort money. Their actions left the victim fearing for his own safety and the safety of his family.”