Five Guilty Of Violent Birmingham Honeytrap Kidnapping
A man was kidnapped and savagely beaten after announcing his new relationship on Facebook.A man was kidnapped and savagely beaten after announcing his new relationship on Facebook.
By Jason KingBy Jason King
Afather and sonfather and sonkidnapped, tortured, and robbedkidnapped, tortured, and robbeda man in arevenge attackrevenge attackover his rekindled relationship with a woman they once had ties to.
Steven Baker, 60, and Matthew Baker, 29,Steven Baker, 60, and Matthew Baker, 29,both fromTyseley,Tyseley,luredAnthony CooperAnthony Cooperinto a car, beat him, and subjected him to aprolonged and vicious ordealprolonged and vicious ordealas part of a 5 person gang,Birmingham Crown CourtBirmingham Crown Courtheard. The pairdisapproveddisapprovedof Mr Cooper’s relationship withBethany Love,Bethany Love,withMatthew BakerMatthew Bakerhaving previously been involved with her.
ProsecutorLynette McClementLynette McClementsaid the pair hadspread false rumoursspread false rumoursbranding Mr Cooper arapist and paedophilerapist and paedophilebefore orchestrating ahoneytrap plothoneytrap plotto attack him. OnOctober 3, 2021,October 3, 2021,their associateShannon Wolleter, 29,Shannon Wolleter, 29,sentflirtatious messagesflirtatious messagesto Mr Cooper and arranged to meet him, acting asbait.bait.
Five peopleFive peoplewere involved in thehoneytrap kidnapping plothoneytrap kidnapping plot, and allfive pleaded guiltyfive pleaded guiltyto various offences:
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David Bambrough, 41
(assault occasioning actual bodily harm)
WhileBambrough was not involved in the initial honeytrap setupBambrough was not involved in the initial honeytrap setup, he participated in the violence at his HMO. The other four were directly involved inluring, kidnapping, and attacking Anthony Cooperluring, kidnapping, and attacking Anthony Cooper.
AsMr Cooper arrived,Mr Cooper arrived,Wolleter messagedWolleter messagedher then-boyfriend,Daniel Aston, 33,Daniel Aston, 33,confirming she had“got him.”“got him.”Moments later,Steven Baker pulled up in a Mercedes estate,Steven Baker pulled up in a Mercedes estate,punchedMr CooperMr Cooperin the face, andforced him into the car,forced him into the car,where his sonMatthew BakerMatthew BakerandAstonAstonjoined in theassault.assault.
Mr Cooper wasthrottled, punched, and threatened with a knifethrottled, punched, and threatened with a knifeas they drove to aHMO in Small Heath,HMO in Small Heath,run by their associateDavid Bambrough, 41.David Bambrough, 41.There, he waspushed onto a bed, repeatedly struck with a metal bar,pushed onto a bed, repeatedly struck with a metal bar,and beaten so violently that hisscreams raised concern among neighbours.screams raised concern among neighbours.
Fearingpolice attention,police attention,the gangdrove him to a park,drove him to a park,where the attack continued.The Bakers, Aston, and Wolleter kicked himThe Bakers, Aston, and Wolleter kicked himwhile he lay on the ground, withWolleter stamping on his genitals.Wolleter stamping on his genitals.At one point,Mr Cooper cried out in pain,Mr Cooper cried out in pain,only forSteven BakerSteven Bakerto sneer:“Good, you deserve it.”“Good, you deserve it.”
Matthew Baker documented the attack,Matthew Baker documented the attack,takingphotos of the bloodied and dazed victimphotos of the bloodied and dazed victimand sending them to others.Mr Cooper’s phone and bank card were stolenMr Cooper’s phone and bank card were stolenbefore he wasdumped near his home.dumped near his home.Hisflatmates later found him unconsciousflatmates later found him unconsciouson the doorstep and called thepolice.police.
Allfive attackers worked at the same homeless charityfive attackers worked at the same homeless charityas the victim. Theypleaded guiltypleaded guiltyto charges includingkidnap and unlawful wounding.kidnap and unlawful wounding.Aston also admitted robbery,Aston also admitted robbery,whileBambrough pleaded guiltyBambrough pleaded guiltytoassault occasioning actual bodily harm.assault occasioning actual bodily harm.They will besentenced at a later date.sentenced at a later date.
ACCESS TO THE LAW: Understanding the Crime and SentencingACCESS TO THE LAW: Understanding the Crime and Sentencing
As part of our campaign to improve citizens’ access and understanding of UK Criminal law, we will be explaining the relevant UK legislation surrounding any case law relevant to our articles:As part of our campaign to improve citizens’ access and understanding of UK Criminal law, we will be explaining the relevant UK legislation surrounding any case law relevant to our articles:
SENTENCING FOR KIDNAP AND VIOLENT ASSAULTSENTENCING FOR KIDNAP AND VIOLENT ASSAULT
Kidnapping is a serious offence under UK law, typically charged under common law rather than statute. It involves the unlawful taking and carrying away of a person by force or fraud, without their consent. Punishmentvariesvariesdepending on the severity of theoffenceoffence, but those convicted can face life imprisonment.
In cases involving violent assaults, charges often includeunlawful woundingunlawful wounding(Section 20 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861) orgrievous bodily harm with intentgrievous bodily harm with intent(Section 18 of the same Act). The latter carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, reflecting the seriousness of sustained or premeditated attacks.
Where a victim is falsely imprisoned, additional charges may apply underfalse imprisonmentfalse imprisonment, another common law offence punishable by life imprisonment. Aggravating factors, such as multiple offenders, the use of weapons, or prolonged violence, can significantly increase sentences.
In this case, the offenders pleaded guilty to kidnap and unlawful wounding, with one also admitting to robbery. Their sentencing will reflect both the violence involved and the lasting impact on the victim, reinforcing the courts’ strong stance on crimes involving coercion and brutality.
NewSentencing GuidelinesSentencing Guidelinesfor kidnap and false imprisonmentwill be brought in on 1st April.
Well, that’s all for now. But until our next article, please stay tuned, stay informed, but most of all stay safe, and I’ll see you then.Well, that’s all for now. But until our next article, please stay tuned, stay informed, but most of all stay safe, and I’ll see you then.
