Four men from Lewisham, Greenwich, Bromley and North London have been jailed for a total of 48 years after being convicted of conspiracy to kidnap and blackmail.

Conrad Jackson, 25, from Bromley, Reece Jackson, 25, from Islington, Amir Sahir, 30, from Greenwich and Zephan Rollins, 29, from Catford, were all sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Tuesday, May 8.

The court heard how, on December 22, 2016, two men chased a 31 year old man from Greenwich and bundled him into a black Audi on Ennis Road in Plumstead, which then headed towards Shooters Hill.

The victim was kept in the car and had his hands tied with handcuffs, cable ties and tape and was assaulted.

When Police were called to Ennis road at about 11.30pm, a relative of the victim told them he had been contacted by the kidnappers who were demanding money for his release.

These calls and demands continued throughout the night, with threats that the perpetrators had shot the victim.

The victim was finally released at 8.30am the following morning after the kidnappers realised police were involved in the incident. They dropped him near to Croxted Road and left him with 60p to make a phone call.

He then walked to a nearby cafe on Norwood Road to tell his family he had been released and was safe.

After being recovered, the 31 year old was taken to hospital and was treated for minor injuries including cuts to the head, ear and nose.

Conrad Jackson was arrested later that day (December 23) after the Audi was spotted by police in Rosendale Gardens and pursued. His three accomplices were arrested in the following weeks.

At the sentencing, Conrad Jackson was jailed for 15 years for conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy to blackmail, false imprisonment, possession of an imitation firearm and possession with intent to supply of a class A drug.

Reece Jackson - of no relation to Conrad - was given a 12 and a half year sentence, while Amir Sahir and Zephan Rollins were jailed for ten years and 11 years.

Investigating officer DI Gary Myers said: "I hope today's sentencing brings the victim some measure of comfort and closure to what must have been a terrifying ordeal.

"We hope this will serve as a reminder that such violence will not be tolerated in the streets of London.

"This investigation demonstrates the Met's commitment to tackling these crimes."