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DB-cleanup/merge-output/sources/162_Repeat-Victim.txt
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StellarCrowandClaude Fable 5.1 439e83a4cb feat(sources): Wayback pass, automatic trimming, detention rule, ten cases re-sourced 
Second and third rounds on the dossier pipeline, reviewed locally before commit.

Retrieval
- wayback_pass.py: retries every BLOCKED/DEAD/THIN/ERROR linked source through
  the Wayback Machine; blocks carry the snapshot date, archive URL and the live
  verdict. 143 slots retried: 93 fetched, 37 no snapshot, 12 script shells, 1 PDF.
- fetch_sources.py: fetch_wayback() helper.
- add_extra_sources.py: files staged extra_* finds (web search, not on the DB
  record) into the store with a provenance note.
- Cases re-sourced by web search: 248 (Oslo: Document.no, Avisa Oslo, NRK; the
  linked Le Parisien piece is case 242 and is marked OFF-CASE), 258 Kharkiv,
  260 Singapore, 358 Bangkok, 365 Las Vegas, 388 Verneuil-sur-Seine, 390 Zoersel,
  430 Homestead. 341 of 364 cases now hold a fetched article; 11, 66 and 399
  have no public text source (podcast, police video, direct victim report).

Trimming
- auto_trim.py: case-anchored furniture cut for UNTRIMMED blocks. Finds the body
  run that mentions the case, merges across subheadings and short furniture
  gaps, drops teasers, share bars, date/URL/caption lines and subscription
  pitches; refuses pages with no record term or almost no body. 302 blocks
  trimmed; 16 left on auto-trim-review.md (7 OFF-CASE suspects). Every cut is
  labelled AUTO-TRIMMED, UNREVIEWED in the dossier; the full extract stays in
  staging/. Decisions with anchors in trim-decisions-auto.json.
- build_cases.py / verify_all.py: banners for auto-trimmed and archived blocks,
  staged-file check extended to Wayback blocks, flag legend under the record.

Detention rule
- README "Definitions": the DB field `kidnappings` is the DETENTION violence
  type (victim, guard, staff or relative held to force submission or execute
  the theft), distinct from the Kidnapping scenario (taken away and held).
- detention-flag-review.md / detention-flag-corrections.json: 40 records
  reviewed with evidence; 30 set-to-1 proposals accepted by the owner on
  2026-09-06 (listed in corrections-approved.md), 10 still open.
- apply_detention_wording.py: "Violence Used" in the 70 reviewed summaries now
  names detention explicitly (62 of 70 labelled), supported by the summary's
  own text; idempotent; supersedes the batch scripts' wording.

Worklist and docs
- sofia-worklist.md: 248 decisions, detention rule item replacing the old
  "no abduction" item, fresh-search section for the textless cases.
- README-START-HERE.md: progress notes, run commands, next steps.
- Bug fixed in passing: Wayback blocks stored in-memory text with carriage
  returns; now stored as read back from disk.

verify_all.py PASSES (2321 checks).

Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5.1 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01GZZENdTLzNGsbNy4DyF1yt
2026-09-06 19:36:45 +02:00

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This file contains ambiguous Unicode characters
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================================================================================================
CASE 162 | Repeat Victim | October, 2023 | UK
================================================================================================
DATABASE RECORD
id 162
date October, 2023
original_date October, 2023
year 2023
month 10
quarter 2023-Q4
victim Repeat Victim
location Cardishead, England
country UK
scenario Kidnapping
description Victim dragged into a flat, tied up, assaulted, locked in a cupboard all night until they received cryptocurrency.
kidnappings 1
violence_torture 1
drugs_alcohol 0
weapons 1
theft 1
life_taken 0
money_wanted hundreds of 1000s GBP
coin_type crypto
reports GM Police
notes Months later, in October, police said the victim went to an address in the Cadishead area. When he arrived, another gang member, Gary Edwards, dragged him into the flat. He was tied up and forced to send more money.. he couldn’t pay immediately, so they tied him and subjected him to violent assaults, and locked him in a cupboard
has_processed_date 1
created_at 2025-11-13 05:44:45
(flag legend: 'kidnappings' is the DETENTION flag — 1 when the victim was held against
their will at any point, tied, locked in, held at gunpoint or taken away; it is NOT the
same as the 'Kidnapping' scenario, which means taken away and held. See README, Definitions.)
AI SUMMARY [generated at bulk import, NOT verified against sources]
**Victim:** Repeat Victim
**Attackers:** Unknown number of perpetrators
**Attack Method:** Kidnapping for ransom
**Violence Used:** Physical assault
**Crypto Stolen:** hundreds of 1000s GBP in crypto
**Status:** Investigation ongoing
LINKED SOURCES
[url] https://www.gmp.police.uk/news/greater-manchester/news/news/2025/january/criminal-gang-who-kidnapped-vulnerable-man-for-cryptocurrency-jailed-for-76-years/
NOTES ON THIS FILE
* matched to sheet row 163: reviewed and approved individually
* part of a 5-incident series against one victim (ids 354, 355, 162, 307, 169)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ARTICLE 1
Source GM Police
URL https://www.gmp.police.uk/news/greater-manchester/news/news/2025/january/criminal-gang-who-kidnapped-vulnerable-man-for-cryptocurrency-jailed-for-76-years/
Origin reported_K&R sheet, row 163, column "Articles"
Length 407 chars
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In October 2023, the victim went to an address in Cadishead. When he arrived, Gary Edwards dragged him into the flat and he was tied up and forced to send more money. When he couldn’t pay immediately, they kept him restrained all night, subjected him to violent assaults, and locked him in a cupboard. If he didn’t pay, Kane Godiff told him he would be killed. After they received the money, he was freed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ARTICLE 2
Source Manchester
URL https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/covered-burns-bruises-begged-can-30900995
Origin reported_K&R sheet, row 164, column "Articles" (one article documenting 5 linked incidents)
Length 7,049 chars
Excerpt verbatim paragraphs relevant to THIS case, quoted from the full text below
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RELEVANT EXCERPT
Months later, in October, police said the victim went to an address in the Cadishead area. When he arrived, another gang member, Gary Edwards, dragged him into the flat. He was tied up and forced to send more money.
When he couldn’t pay immediately, they kept him restrained all night and subjected him to violent assaults before locking him in a cupboard. If he didn’t pay, fellow associate Kane Godiff told him he would be killed. After they received the money, he was freed.
FULL ARTICLE
Covered in burns and bruises, he begged 'can you take me with you?'
The vulnerable victim had been drugged, threatened, deliberately burnt, hit with weapons, locked in a cupboard and bound with cables in a horrific reign of terror by the cryptocurrency gang
News
James Holt Senior Live and Breaking News Reporter
16:46, 30 Jan 2025
The evil cryptocurrency gang kidnapped and attacked their victim
View 6 Images
The cryptocurrency gang kidnapped and attacked their victim (Image: GMP)
A man who had a bag put over his head and was tied up by a cryptocurrency gang begged police 'can you take me with you?' after he was eventually found being held captive in a flat.
The vulnerable victim had been drugged, threatened, deliberately burnt, hit with weapons, locked in a cupboard and bound with cables in a horrific reign of terror at the property in Irlam, a court heard.
After months of torment, investigations revealed that the victim had been used to acquire hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of cryptocurrency which the defendants, through use of violence, kidnap, and false imprisonment, then sought to steal from him.
The abuse first began when the victim answered a knock at his door in January 2023, a court was told. He was threatened with violence by thug Scott Armstrong if he didn't transfer cryptocurrency to him. Later that month, another associate, David Povey, went back to the victims address with another man, armed with a knife and demanding more money.
Guns were fond stashed inside the property
View 6 Images
Guns were fond stashed inside the property(Image: GMP)
Months later, in October, police said the victim went to an address in the Cadishead area. When he arrived, another gang member, Gary Edwards, dragged him into the flat. He was tied up and forced to send more money.
When he couldn’t pay immediately, they kept him restrained all night and subjected him to violent assaults before locking him in a cupboard. If he didn’t pay, fellow associate Kane Godiff told him he would be killed. After they received the money, he was freed.
Days later, the gang turned up at the victim's house again, demanding more money. They took him to Egret Drive, the address he was later found at by police, and placed a bag over his head.
The final incident took place on November 30. The victim had been at a friend’s address when he was approached by defendant Gary Edwards and thrown into a van and had his head covered once again.
Then, on December 2, the police received an anonymous tip-off reporting concerns for welfare at the flat. Upon attending, police saw a man running away from the address – later identified as Karl Johnson. The victim was also found inside, who begged 'can you take me with you?' before revealing the tirade of violence he had been subjected to.
(From top left to right) - Scott Armstrong, Luke Johnson, David Povey, Kane Goddiff, Gary Edwards, Jonathan Newns, Karl Johnson
View 6 Images
(From top left to right) - Scott Armstrong, Luke Johnson, David Povey, Kane Goddiff, Gary Edwards, Jonathan Newns, Karl Johnson(Image: GMP)
He explained that he’d been brought to this property against his will with a bag over his head. He spoke of the ordeal they had subjected him to, and revealed how he’d been violently assaulted and tied up.
Officers searched the address and found a dressing gown strap which had been tied to the bed, along with electrical cables. The victim also had a burn mark on his hand, and bruises on his body from where he had been hit with a weapon, court was told.
Weapons were found in the kitchen
View 6 Images
Weapons were found in the kitchen(Image: GMP)
Detectives uncovered that the victim had acquired hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of cryptocurrency which the defendants had sought to steal from him.
As the investigation developed, detectives identified that the gang had 'terrorised' the victim on several occasions, demanding crypto currency, using machetes and a pistol to assault him, and on one occasion, drugging him with morphine.
At the property, detectives from GMP's Criminal Investigation Department seized a viable firearm, a magazine containing three rounds of ammunition, an imitation firearm and an air pistol, electrical cables, ropes, and cable ties which were used to restrain the victim, knives, meat cleavers, a metal baseball bat, a machete, and a hammer.
An air pistol was found at the scene among other weapons
View 6 Images
An air pistol was found at the scene among other weapons(Image: GMP)
Police also found documents belonging to Karl Johnson, and several cigarette butts which had DNA from Karl and Luke Johnson.
The victim explained that similar incidents had happened several months earlier, but that he had been let go after paying them a sum of over £100,000.
Police revealed how further phone analysis identified that the defendants were in contact in the nights leading up to the first kidnap. Similarly, after police located the victim, Jonathan Newns, David Povey, and Karl Johnson were all in regular contact with one another. Cell site analysis also placed them all at the at the house on Egret Drive on the dates of kidnap.
A forensic analysis of the black hand pistol and ammunition that police seized provide a DNA profile which was a match for Jonathan Newns.
On Thursday (January 30), the gang of seven men appeared at Manchester Crown Court to be sentenced for their roles after being found guilty of multiple offences. They have been jailed for more 76 years between them.
The gang were jailed at Manchester Crown Court
View 6 Images
The gang were jailed at Manchester Crown Court(Image: MEN Media)
Jonathan Newns, 24, of Salix Court, Whitebeam Close, Salford was found guilty of two counts of attempted robbery, two counts of false imprisonment, kidnap, and possession of a prohibited firearm. He has been jailed for 20 years.
David Povey, 38, of Dalebeck Close, Whitefield, was found guilty of robbery, kidnap, false imprisonment, and attempted robbery. He has been jailed for 20 years.
Luke Johnson, 25, of Southway, Eccles, was found guilty of two counts of attempted robbery, two counts of false imprisonment, and two counts of kidnap. He has been jailed for 13 years and six months.
Gary Edwards, 47, of Cumberland Avenue, Cadishead, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery. He has been jailed for ten years and two months.
Kane Godiff, 33, of no fixed abode pleaded guilty to attempted robbery. He has been jailed for seven years and five months.
Karl Johnson, 35, of Egret Drive, Irlam, pleaded guilty to two counts of encouraging or assisting an offence of robbery. He has been jailed for three years years.
Scott Armstrong, 39, of no fixed abode pleaded guilty to two counts of transferring criminal property. he has been jailed for two years and four months.
Investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Stephanie Bowling, said: “This was a challenging investigation which has thankfully resulted in these dangerous offenders being removed from the streets for a significant amount of time.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FETCHED ARTICLE 1 [AUTO-TRIMMED — UNREVIEWED]
!! Furniture was cut by a script keyed on this case's record, not by a person.
!! It may still carry passages about OTHER cases from a round-up article.
!! The full page extract is kept in staging/ if a cut needs revisiting.
Source gmp.police.uk
URL https://www.gmp.police.uk/news/greater-manchester/news/news/2025/january/criminal-gang-who-kidnapped-vulnerable-man-for-cryptocurrency-jailed-for-76-years/
Field url
Retrieved 2026-09-05T13:29:37+00:00 via Wayback Machine snapshot 20250714004817, deterministic extraction (HTTP None)
Language unknown
Kept paragraphs headline [0] + 5-32 of 33
Length 6,149 chars
Integrity sha256 8ce4b37be8aff61b77202ac32ce622f9a6cba377c2530eda769b11b4d134d0a2
Trimmed AUTO-TRIMMED, unreviewed: kept paragraphs 5-32 plus headline [0]; dropped 4 leading and 0 trailing paragraphs. Case-term hits on page: 11.
Note live URL was BLOCKED on the first pass; text comes from an archived copy dated 2025-07-14
Archive http://web.archive.org/web/20250714004817/https://www.gmp.police.uk/news/greater-manchester/news/news/2025/january/criminal-gang-who-kidnapped-vulnerable-man-for-cryptocurrency-jailed-for-76-years/
Caveat retrieved from a Wayback Machine snapshot, not the live page. The
snapshot date is in the method line; the live URL was unreadable.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ORIGINAL (unknown, verbatim as retrieved)
Criminal gang who kidnapped vulnerable man for cryptocurrency jailed for 76 years | Greater Manchester Police
Sorry, there was a technical problem. Please try again.
Criminal gang who kidnapped vulnerable man for cryptocurrency jailed for 76 years
On 2 December 2023, police received an anonymous call reporting concerns for welfare at a flat in Irlam. Upon attending, police saw a man running away from the address – later identified as Karl Johnson.
They gained entrance and identified a victim who said to the officer ‘can you take me with you?’. He explained that he’d been brought to this property against his will with a bag over his head. He spoke of the ordeal they had subjected him to, he’d been violently assaulted and tied up.
Officers searched the address and found a dressing gown strap which had been tied to the bed, along with electrical cables. He also had a burn mark on his hand, and bruises on his body from where he had been hit with a weapon.
Detectives uncovered that the victim had acquired hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of cryptocurrency which the defendants, through use of violence, kidnap, and false imprisonment, sought to steal.
An investigation was immediately launched by our Criminal Investigation Department in Salford and from the address, police recovered more weapons. They seized a viable firearm, a magazine containing three rounds of ammunition, an imitation firearm and an air pistol, electrical cables, ropes, and cable ties which were used to restrain the victim, knives, meat cleavers, a metal baseball bat, a machete, and a hammer. Police also found documents belonging to Karl Johnson, and several cigarette butts which had DNA from Karl and Luke Johnson.
The victim said he did not who was doing this to him but explained that similar incidents had happened several months earlier, but they had let him go as he had paid them over £100,000.
As the investigation developed, detectives identified that these men had terrorised the victim on several occasions, demanding crypto currency, using machetes and a pistol to assault him, and even drugging him with morphine on one occasion.
In January 2023, the victim was at home when he heard a knock on his door. The man at the door threatened to assault him if he didn’t transfer cryptocurrency to Scott Armstrong. The victim transferred the money, and upon receipt, the man left.
Later that month, David Povey went back to the victims address with another man. They had a knife and were demanding more money.
In October 2023, the victim went to an address in Cadishead. When he arrived, Gary Edwards dragged him into the flat and he was tied up and forced to send more money. When he couldn’t pay immediately, they kept him restrained all night, subjected him to violent assaults, and locked him in a cupboard. If he didn’t pay, Kane Godiff told him he would be killed. After they received the money, he was freed.
Just days later, they went to his house again, demanding more money. They took him to Egret Drive, the address he was later found at by police. Again, they placed a bag over his head and demanded money.
The final incident took place on 30 November, the victim had been at a friend’s address when he was approached by Gary Edwards and thrown into a van and had something put over his head.
Further phone analysis identified that the defendants were in contact in the nights leading up to the first kidnap. Similarly, after police located the victim, Jonathan Newns, David Povey, and Karl Johnson were all in regular contact with one another. Cell site analysis also placed them all at the at the house on Egret Drive on the dates of kidnap.
A forensic analysis of the black hand pistol and ammunition that police seized provide a DNA profile which was a match for Jonathan Newns.
Today (Thursday 30 January) the men appeared at Manchester Crown Court to be sentenced for their roles.
Jonathan Newns 13/05/2000 of Salix Court, Whitebeam Close, Salford was found guilty of two counts of attempted robbery, two counts of false imprisonment, kidnap, and possession of a prohibited firearm. He has been jailed for 20 years.
David Povey 27/07/1986 of Dalebeck Close, Whitefield, was found guilty of robbery, kidnap, false imprisonment, and attempted robbery. He has been jailed for 20 years.
Luke Johnson 29/10/1999 of Southway, Eccles, was found guilty of two counts of attempted robbery, two counts of false imprisonment, and two counts of kidnap. He has been jailed for 13 years and six months.
Gary Edwards 28/10/1977 of Cumberland Avenue, Cadishead, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery. He has been jailed for ten years and two months.
Kane Godiff 14/07/1991 of no fixed abode pleaded guilty to attempted robbery. He has been jailed for seven years and five months.
Karl Johnson 24/07/1989 of Egret Drive, Irlam, pleaded guilty to two counts of encouraging or assisting an offence of robbery. He has been jailed for three years years.
Scott Armstrong 06/08/1985 of no fixed abode pleaded guilty to two counts of transferring criminal property. he has been jailed for two years and four months.
Investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Stephanie Bowling, said: “This was a challenging investigation which has thankfully resulted in these dangerous offenders being removed from the streets for a significant amount of time.
“While I know that this sentence won’t change or takeaway from the trauma that our victim was subjected to, I sincerely hope that it helps him move forward with his life, safe in the knowledge that these men are now behind bars.”
Detective Inspector Justin Bryant from our Salford district said: “These men showed a concerning propensity for violence and weren’t afraid to use a variety of formidable weapons to get what they want. I’d like to commend the victim for his bravery, and I hope he continues to recover from this experience.
“I not only hope that this sentencing acts as a deterrent to anyone who may be considering such violence, but I hope it reassures the communities of Greater Manchester that we will use all specialist resources and skills catch harmful offenders.”
================================================================================================
generated from attacks-export-Gart-website.json + reported_K&R | case 162
================================================================================================
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