“THIS has done nothing short of completely ruin my life” – those were the words of a businessman who was kidnapped and assaulted by a gym boss and his ‘gang’.

Now the six men, mostly from Southampton and Eastleigh, have been jailed for a total of more than 40 years after admitting taking Richard Baker from his West End business and assaulting him before threatening his family.

Daniel Harkins, 38, of Sherborne Road, Eastleigh; Jamie Kingston, 41, of Paynes Road, Shirley; Leroy King, 36, of Dutton Lane, Eastleigh; Rodney Traves, 48, of Croydon Close, Southampton; Peter Chamberlain, 50, of Chaucer Road, Southampton and Alan Boddy, 47, of Goldingham Drive, Essex, had been due to stand trial this week over the kidnap, but changed their pleas for kidnap and conspiracy to falsely imprison to guilty at the last minute.

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Winchester Crown Court heard how they took Mr Baker from his premises in West End as they were on a mission to find two people they believed were connected to an arson at Samson’s Gym – owned by Harkins.

They went after Mr Baker, as they believed he had the telephone number of a man connected to the arson.

The court heard that the men, whom Judge Peter Henry described as a “gang”, had taken the law into their own hands following the arson attack at Harkins’ gym. Judge Henry said it appeared the arson followed a dispute which “appeared from the evidence” to be “related to drugs and money being owed”.

Daily Echo:

Unhappy with the progress of a police investigation, Harkins assembled the gang to find those responsible, or someone who could help find them.

After getting hold of Mr Baker, they assaulted him and threatened him.

The court heard that as well as being punched, a screwdriver was put up his nose, and threats were made about putting his fingers in a vice.

Eventually Mr Baker was able to escape, and he hid under a caravan.

Prosecutor Charles Gabb read out a victim impact statement from Mr Baker, who said: “I’ve lost my business which has clearly affected my family... I would describe my family as having to live on rations.

“This has done nothing short of completely ruin my life. I feel the people who were remanded are having a better life than me.”

The court also heard that Mr Baker had to move his family several times and was currently in a “secret location”.

Sentencing the defendants, who appeared in the dock side-by-side, Judge Henry said Harkins “undoubtedly” was the ringleader, while Kingston was his “right-hand man”. Addressing Chamberlain, he added: “You must have been the one who was threatening to rape.”

Harkins was jailed for a total of nine years, Kingston was given eight years, while King and Chamberlain received seven years. Boddy and Traves were sentenced to six years each.

Judge Henry said they would all serve no more than half behind bars.

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