StellarCrowandClaude Fable 5.1
499fd61f79
Until now only cases 357+ (plus a few older ones) had their linked URLs fetched; the other 252 dossiers held just the text pasted into the spreadsheet, often only the lede. This pass fetches every linked URL for those cases so the full text is on file before link rot takes it. - stage_all.py: new --include-sheet-cases flag that lifts the skip on cases holding spreadsheet articles. Resumable as before. - staging/: raw extracts and index.json for the 252 cases. - sourced-articles.json, case-files-manifest.json: 188 new UNTRIMMED blocks. 179 cases gained at least one fetched article; 73 got none (49 BLOCKED, 18 THIN, 9 DEAD, 4 video/social, 3 ERROR). - sources/*.txt: rebuilt with build_cases.py --all. Sheet pastes are kept; fetched blocks sit beside them under the NOT YET TRIMMED banner. Files previously committed with CRLF are now LF. - wayback-availability.json: Wayback snapshots exist for 73 of the 98 failed URL slots; input for an archive-fetch pass. - README-START-HERE.md: progress note and next step. verify_all.py PASSES (1836 checks). Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5.1 <noreply@anthropic.com> Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01GZZENdTLzNGsbNy4DyF1yt
161 lines
11 KiB
Plaintext
161 lines
11 KiB
Plaintext
================================================================================================
|
||
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
|
||
|
||
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.
|
||
|
||
OTHER LINKED SOURCES
|
||
[BLOCKED] url None — raw request refused; try the WebFetch path, which is a model transcription and must be labelled as such
|
||
https://www.gmp.police.uk/news/greater-manchester/news/news/2025/january/criminal-gang-who-kidnapped-vulnerable-man-for-cryptocurrency-jailed-for-76-years/
|
||
|
||
================================================================================================
|
||
generated from attacks-export-Gart-website.json + reported_K&R | case 162
|
||
================================================================================================
|