The 38 year old endured prolonged abuse at the hands of Reece Armstrong, Tarelle Thompson, Lorna Swyer, Levi Burton and Sebastian Love (Image: Surrey Police)
A gang who abducted a man and subjected him to a harrowing ordeal of ‘torture’ — including force-feeding, sexual assault and threatening him with dogs — have been sentenced to prison.
The 38 year old endured prolonged abuse at the hands of Reece Armstrong, Tarelle Thompson, Lorna Swyer, Levi Burton and Sebastian Love, a court was told.
The Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team received a call from a neighbour of the victim on 26 April last year, reporting that he had been snatched by two or three balaclava-clad men.
Officers revealed he was subsequently taken to an address in Reigate, Surrey, where he was blindfolded and force-fed. Two dogs at the property were also agitated in order to make him fear he would be attacked.
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The victim was then transported to an address in Farnborough, Hampshire, where he was subjected to a sustained assault and sexual assault, according to Surrey Police.
The following day, the victim’s brother received a series of calls making demands for his release. However, at around 4.30pm that same day, officers from Hampshire Constabulary tracked down the victim and arrested Armstrong, Thompson, Swyer and Burton.
Enquiries conducted by the investigation team subsequently identified Sebastian Love as the individual making the ransom calls, leading to his arrest and charges. All defendants received their sentences on February 20 at Guildford Crown Court after a six-week trial in December 2025.
Armstrong, 30, from Staines-upon-Thames, was convicted of conspiracy to kidnap, Section 18 assault occasioning grievous bodily harm with intent and two counts of possession of an offensive weapon. He received nine years imprisonment consecutive to an unrelated five-year sentence imposed in July 2025.
Reece Armstrong. A group who kidnapped a man and subjected him to horrific torture, including force feeding and sexual assault, have been jailed. Five people have been sentenced to a collective 36 years in prison after kidnapping a 38-year-old man and subjecting him to prolonged abuse. The Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team received a call from a neighbour of the victim on 26 April 2025 saying that he had been kidnapped by two or three men wearing balaclavas.He was taken to an address in Reigate, Surrey, where he was blindfolded, force-fed and two dogs at the property were agitated to make him fearful that they would attack him. (Image: Surrey Police)
Thompson, 28, from Croydon, was convicted of conspiracy to kidnap and possession of an offensive weapon and received nine years imprisonment and five years on licence.
Swyer, 21, of Dorking, admitted conspiracy to kidnap and common assault and was given three years and four months imprisonment.
Love, 21, from Merton, admitted conspiracy to kidnap and received three years and four months imprisonment.
Burton, 31, from Leatherhead, was convicted of sexual assault during the trial and had previously admitted conspiracy to kidnap, false imprisonment and assaulting a police officer.
He received his sentence on Monday of 12 years imprisonment and five years on licence and will remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
Tarelle Thompson. A group who kidnapped a man and subjected him to horrific torture, including force feeding and sexual assault, have been jailed. Five people have been sentenced to a collective 36 years in prison after kidnapping a 38-year-old man and subjecting him to prolonged abuse. The Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team received a call from a neighbour of the victim on 26 April 2025 saying that he had been kidnapped by two or three men wearing balaclavas.He was taken to an address in Reigate, Surrey, where he was blindfolded, force-fed and two dogs at the property were agitated to make him fearful that they would attack him. (Image: Surrey Police)
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Kimball Edey, said: “As soon as we became aware that a kidnap had taken place, officers worked at pace to locate the victim as quickly as possible.
“He was located the day after he’d been kidnapped, and had been subjected to what amounted to torture at the hands of Armstrong, Burton, Love, Swyer and Thompson.
“No one should have to endure the ordeal they had put him through and the sentencing today has ensured they will spend a long time in prison, where they belong.”