A 38-year-old man who was abducted by a group of five was subjected to ‘horrific’ torture including force-feeding, sexual assault and being threatened with dogs.

The group of five have been sentenced to a collective 36 years in prison after abducting the man and putting him through prolonged abuse.

His neighbour rang the police on April 26 last year, alerting them that he had been kidnapped by two or three men wearing balaclavas.

The man was then taken to an address in Reigate, Surrey, where he was blindfolded and force-fed, Surrey Police said.

Two dogs at the property were also agitated to make him fearful that they would attack him. 

The victim was then taken to an address in Farnborough, Hampshire, where he was subjected to a prolonged assault and sexual assault.

The following day, the man’s brother received a number of calls making demands to secure his release.

But, at around 4.30pm the same day, officers from Hampshire Constabulary located the victim and arrested Reece Armstrong, Tarelle Thompson, Lorna Swyer, and Levi Burton. Further investigation identified Sebastian Love as making the demand calls, and he was subsequently arrested and charged.   

Tarelle Thompson, 28, from Croydon, (left) was sentenced to nine years imprisonment and five years on licence. Reece Armstrong, 30, (right) from Staines-upon-Thames, was sentenced to nine years imprisonment consecutive to an unrelated sentence of five years that was imposed in July 2025.

Lorna Swyer, 21, of Dorking, (left) was given three years and four months imprisonment. Sebastian Love, 21, from Merton, (right) was handed three years and four months imprisonment

Levi Burton, 31, from Leatherhead, received 12 years imprisonment and five years on license and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for life

They were all sentenced on February 20 at Guildford Crown Court following a six-week trial in December 2025.

Armstrong, 30, from Staines-upon-Thames, was found guilty of conspiracy to kidnap, Section 18 assault occasioning grievous bodily harm with intent and two counts of possession of an offensive weapon.

He was sentenced to nine years imprisonment consecutive to an unrelated sentence of five years that was imposed in July 2025.

Thompson, 28, from Croydon, was found guilty of conspiracy to kidnap and possession of an offensive weapon and sentenced to nine years imprisonment and five years on licence.

Swyer, 21, of Dorking, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap and common assault and was given three years and four months imprisonment.

Love, 21, from Merton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap and was handed three years and four months imprisonment.

Burton, 31, from Leatherhead, was found guilty of sexual assault following the trial and he had already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap, false imprisonment and assaulting a police officer.

He was sentenced on February 23 and received 12 years imprisonment and five years on licence and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

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.’