Three jailed for Luton kidnap plot
The victim escaped the attempted kidnapping, but he and his family were later subjected to threats, surveillance, and arson, leaving them in fear for their lives
Three men have been sentenced to over 18 years in total for attempting to kidnap a man in Luton, followed by a campaign of intimidation, arson, and blackmail.
Dominic Croucher, Jamie Williams, and Paul Morrell admitted their involvement in the offences, which began in September last year. The incidents included a violent attempt to abduct the victim in broad daylight, setting fire to his property, and sending threatening messages with photographs of his home and family.
The plot began on 3 September 2023, when the victim was walking along Havelock Road in Luton. He was attacked by Williams and another man, dragged to the ground, and handcuffed while being pulled towards a waiting white van. The victim managed to resist, escaping with help from bystanders. The attackers fled, leaving behind the handcuffs, which were later linked to Williams and Morrell through DNA evidence.
Investigators identified Croucher as the van’s driver using CCTV and ANPR (automatic number plate recognition). It was discovered that Croucher travelled from Swansea to Hemel Hempstead the day before the incident and stayed in a hotel overnight. The van’s number plates were replaced after the attempted abduction, and the new plates, along with a key to the handcuffs, were found at Williams' home in Doncaster.
Morrell, who rented a white Mercedes seen in convoy with the van, was believed to have directed Croucher to the victim’s location. The Mercedes, also fitted with false plates, travelled from Doncaster to Luton the day before the attack.
A week later, on 11 September, the victim received threats via social media, including images indicating the offenders had been monitoring both him and his family. Investigators traced the messages to Morrell’s address in Doncaster.
Days after the threats, two individuals, believed to be Williams and Morrell, set the victim’s fence and garden shed alight in the early hours of the morning.
Police uncovered conversations between the three men discussing their plans, including preparations for police encounters and their hopes for “life-changing money.” They also found incriminating photographs and a message referencing the arson, stating they had “blazed his gaff.”
Croucher and Williams were arrested on 15 September, with Morrell apprehended three days later.
At Luton Crown Court, Judge Hunter KC described the actions of the men as “organised criminal activity” and declared them dangerous offenders.
Detective Constable Daniel Matcham, from Bedfordshire Police, said: “This was an escalating series of events where the offenders attempted to kidnap the victim by using serious violence against him and, when that didn’t work, they continued their vendetta by threatening him and setting his fence and garden shed on fire.”
He added: “Their intimidating and wicked actions left the victim in fear of not only his life but the lives of his family too.”
Croucher, 28, from Swansea, was sentenced to eight years and three months. Williams, 40, and Morrell, 39, both from Doncaster, received sentences of 10 years and six months each.