A 71-year-old man was kidnapped and left in the boot of his electric car after the vehicle ran out of power during a botched burglary. The gang had targeted the victim at his Torquay home after seeing posts of him wearing expensive watches on Instagram.
During the incident on January 26, the victim told his captors that his watches had already been stolen. The raiders intended to transport him to an address in London where they believed more watches were located. The man recounted to a court that he feared for his life as his hands were cable-tied and his mouth taped before being placed in the car boot.
Two members of the gang, identified as Altan O’Connell and Luke McInerney, drove the electric car up the M5 motorway. However, the vehicle's battery depleted near Bridgwater. The perpetrators then abandoned the car in a lane near Puriton, Somerset, and fled the scene.
The victim managed to free himself from the boot, locate the car keys, and use the remaining battery power to drive to a nearby shop, where he raised the alarm.
Following an investigation, six individuals were sentenced this week at Exeter Crown Court for their involvement in the crime and other offenses. Franklin O’Dwyer, 25, Altan O’Connell, 27, Luke McInerney, 31, Nicholas O’Dwyer, 56, Dwain Stratford, 35, and Karl Houghton, 36, all from Swindon, received a combined total of 49 years in prison. Police linked the group to similar crimes across the South West region. The convicted individuals pleaded guilty to offenses including kidnap, false imprisonment, burglary, possession of drugs, handling stolen goods, and counterfeit currency.
Analysis of phones associated with the gang revealed Instagram search terms linked to their criminal activities. During arrests at various addresses, officers recovered stolen vehicles, numerous watches, jewelry, designer handbags, drones, and cash.
Franklin O’Dwyer received a sentence of ten years and five months for kidnap and burglary. O’Connell and McInerney were each sentenced to eleven years and ten months. Nicholas O’Dwyer, Dwain Stratford, and Karl Houghton were jailed for six years and three months, four years and eight months, and four years, respectively.