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THREE men who kidnapped a businessman at gunpoint have been jailed and placed on a register of the UK's most dangerous criminals.

Frank Kwarteng was dragged from his car in Yardley Avenue, Chingford, and driven to Sheffield, where he was held captive.

The 32-year-old was beaten and repeatedley threatened with a gun before being forced to arrange for his girlfriend to travel to Yorkshire with what was described as a substantial sum' of money to secure his release.

She met gang member Dean Laycock in a Sheffield shopping centre and handed over the cash. Mr Kwarteng was released later that day.

A joint investigation by police in Waltham Forest and Yorkshire led to a raid on a house in the city and Laycock was arrested 11 days after the kidnap. Accomplices Nathan Sutton and Dwayne Smith were arrested months later.

All three pleaded guilty to kidnap and possessing a handgun on March 12. They were sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court in April 18.

Laycock, 31, of Manchester, was sentenced to 10 years for kidnap and six years for possessing a loaded handgun.

Sutton, 22, and Smith, 23, both of Manchester, were jailed for nine months for kidnap and six years for possession of a loaded handgun.

The men's sentences will run concurrently.

Det Sgt Ritchie Phipps, who led the investigation for Waltham Forest CID, said: "This was a calculated act of gratuitous violence.

"Although we still do not have a clear idea why the men targeted Mr Kwarteng, there was one motive in mind at that was money. "

4:02pm Friday 25th April 2008

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