'Deeply disturbing' kidnap plot with Hull 'target' foiled

FIVE CONVICTED FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENT

- By MARK PAGE

A "deeply disturbing kidnap plot" targeting a house in Hull was foiled after suspicious activity at an AirBnB in a small village was reported.

Five people have been convicted of their involvement in the "carefully orchestrated" scheme, including a man who flew from Amsterdam to take part.

The owner of the property in Barrow Road, Goxhill, North Lincolnshire, raised concerns after it was booked by a "woman for a family trip with her baby". However, on January 28 this year, a group of men arrived and were "suspected to be committing burglary".

Police were sent to the scene and three men attempted to flee on foot to avoid arrest. At this point, officers had no idea that, when they managed to arrest two of the men, they were actually disrupting an international kidnap plot involving several people.

David Glen-Meade, 33, of Home Close, Leicester, was this week found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to kidnap following a two-week trial. Four other people entered guilty pleas earlier in the court proceedings.

Anthony Andjole, 30, of no fixed address, admitted failing to comply with the regulation of investigatory powers act on day one of the trial, having already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap and possession of a firearm with intent at an earlier court hearing on May 6. On day two of the trial, Michael McDonald, 54, of Acacia Road, Doncaster, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap and possession of a firearm with intent and two women, Chloe Brooks, 34, of Broom Hill Drive, Doncaster, and Indiana Smith, 22, of Flint Road, Newark, both entered guilty pleas on the same day to participating in the activities of an organised crime group.