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
240 lines
18 KiB
Plaintext
240 lines
18 KiB
Plaintext
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CASE 169 | Repeat Victim | November 30, 2023 | UK
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DATABASE RECORD
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id 169
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date November 30, 2023
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original_date November 30, 2023
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year 2023
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month 11
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quarter 2023-Q4
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victim Repeat Victim
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location Salford, England
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country UK
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scenario Kidnapping
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description Victim was kidnapped from a friend's house, had bag placed over head, rescued by police after anonymous tip sent.
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kidnappings 0
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violence_torture 0
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drugs_alcohol 0
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weapons 0
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theft 0
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life_taken 0
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money_wanted hundreds of 1000s GBP
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coin_type crypto
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reports BBC
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notes 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.
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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.
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has_processed_date 1
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created_at 2025-11-13 05:44:45
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AI SUMMARY [generated at bulk import, NOT verified against sources]
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**Victim:** Repeat Victim
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**Attackers:** Unknown number of perpetrators
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**Attack Method:** Kidnapping
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**Violence Used:** Threats/intimidation
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**Crypto Stolen:** hundreds of 1000s GBP in crypto
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**Status:** Victim rescued; suspects arrested
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LINKED SOURCES
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[url] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62e3v4ng7ko
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NOTES ON THIS FILE
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* matched to sheet row 170: exact date + country, unique candidate
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* part of a 5-incident series against one victim (ids 354, 355, 162, 307, 169)
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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ARTICLE 1
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Source BBC
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URL https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62e3v4ng7ko
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Origin reported_K&R sheet, row 170, column "Articles"
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Length 3,055 chars
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Gang who kidnapped man for cryptocurrency jailed
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31 January 2025Laura O'NeillBBC News, ManchesterGreater Manchester PoliceDavid Povey and Jonathan Newns were among the gang members handed the most severe sentences
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Gang members who kidnapped a man and forced him to handover hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of cryptocurrency have been jailed - after they were tracked down from DNA left on cigarette butts.
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Between January and November 2023 the group repeatedly terrorised the victim, holding him against his will, using machetes and a pistol to attack him and drugging him with morphine, Greater Manchester Police said.
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The group, who received sentences totally more than 75 years, were caught after police traced their DNA and used mobile phone date to link them to the scene.
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The victim was found at an address in Irlam on 2 December after officers received an anonymous tip-off. Police said he had a burn mark on his hand and bruises on his body from where he had been hit with a weapon.
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He told officers he had been brought to the property against his will on 30 November with a bag over his head and had been held overnight twice before.
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On one occasion he was locked in a cupboard and violently assaulted, police said.
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The victim also told officers the group had only let him go after he had paid them currency worth more than £100,000, adding they had visited his home and threatened to assault him if he failed to do so.
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During the investigation police seized a gun, a magazine containing three rounds of ammunition, imitation weapons, knives, meat cleavers, a metal baseball bat, a machete, and a hammer.
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Weapons seized
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They also found electrical cables, ropes, and cable ties which were used to restrain the victim.
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GMP said the group was identified after documents belonging to one of the men were found at the property. Police were also able to identify DNA from several cigarette butts.
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Phone analysis also placed them all at the at the house in Irlam on relevant dates, police said.
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The men, who appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday were sentenced as follows:
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Jonathan Newns, 24, from Salford, was jailed for 20 years after he was found guilty of of attempted robbery, false imprisonment, kidnap, and possession of a prohibited firearm
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David Povey, 38, from Whitefield, was jailed for 20 years after he was found guilty of robbery, kidnap, false imprisonment, and attempted robbery
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Luke Johnson, 25, from Eccles, was jailed for 13 years and six months after he was found guilty of attempted robbery, false imprisonment and kidnap
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Gary Edwards, 47, from Cadishead, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and was jailed for 10 years and two months.
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Kane Godiff, 33, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and was jailed for seven years and five months
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Karl Johnson, 35, from Irlam, pleaded guilty to encouraging or assisting an offence of robbery and was jailed for three years
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Scott Armstrong, 39, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to transferring criminal property and was jailed for two years and four months
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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ARTICLE 2
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Source Manchester
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URL https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/covered-burns-bruises-begged-can-30900995
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Origin reported_K&R sheet, row 164, column "Articles" (one article documenting 5 linked incidents)
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Length 7,049 chars
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Excerpt verbatim paragraphs relevant to THIS case, quoted from the full text below
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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RELEVANT EXCERPT
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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.
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FULL ARTICLE
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Covered in burns and bruises, he begged 'can you take me with you?'
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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
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News
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James Holt Senior Live and Breaking News Reporter
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16:46, 30 Jan 2025
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The evil cryptocurrency gang kidnapped and attacked their victim
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View 6 Images
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The cryptocurrency gang kidnapped and attacked their victim (Image: GMP)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Guns were fond stashed inside the property
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View 6 Images
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Guns were fond stashed inside the property(Image: GMP)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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(From top left to right) - Scott Armstrong, Luke Johnson, David Povey, Kane Goddiff, Gary Edwards, Jonathan Newns, Karl Johnson
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View 6 Images
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(From top left to right) - Scott Armstrong, Luke Johnson, David Povey, Kane Goddiff, Gary Edwards, Jonathan Newns, Karl Johnson(Image: GMP)
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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.
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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.
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Weapons were found in the kitchen
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View 6 Images
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Weapons were found in the kitchen(Image: GMP)
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Detectives uncovered that the victim had acquired hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of cryptocurrency which the defendants had sought to steal from him.
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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.
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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.
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An air pistol was found at the scene among other weapons
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View 6 Images
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An air pistol was found at the scene among other weapons(Image: GMP)
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Police also found documents belonging to Karl Johnson, and several cigarette butts which had DNA from Karl and Luke Johnson.
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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.
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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.
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A forensic analysis of the black hand pistol and ammunition that police seized provide a DNA profile which was a match for Jonathan Newns.
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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.
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The gang were jailed at Manchester Crown Court
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View 6 Images
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The gang were jailed at Manchester Crown Court(Image: MEN Media)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Gary Edwards, 47, of Cumberland Avenue, Cadishead, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery. He has been jailed for ten years and two months.
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Kane Godiff, 33, of no fixed abode pleaded guilty to attempted robbery. He has been jailed for seven years and five months.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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FETCHED ARTICLE 1 [RAW EXTRACT — NOT YET TRIMMED]
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!! This is the whole page as extracted. It still contains site furniture,
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!! and may contain teaser headlines for UNRELATED cases. Trim on read-through.
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!! Do not quote from it without checking the passage belongs to this case.
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Source bbc.com
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URL https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62e3v4ng7ko
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Field url
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Retrieved 2026-09-05T12:51:00+00:00 via raw HTTP retrieval, deterministic extraction (HTTP 200)
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Language unknown
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Kept paragraphs ALL 22 paragraphs, untrimmed
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Length 3,121 chars
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Integrity sha256 2ebb42c9d5d39e27e9fa2f184020b565d0136d3653598c3c818de9d85b4391da
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Trimmed NOT TRIMMED. Full page extract; trim on read-through.
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Caveat retrieved from a live page on the date above. Unlike text copied
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from the spreadsheet, there is no second copy to hash it against.
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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ORIGINAL (unknown, verbatim as retrieved)
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Greater Manchester gang who kidnapped man for cryptocurrency jailed
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Gang who kidnapped man for cryptocurrency jailed
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Gang members who kidnapped a man and forced him to handover hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of cryptocurrency have been jailed - after they were tracked down from DNA left on cigarette butts.
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Between January and November 2023 the group repeatedly terrorised the victim, holding him against his will, using machetes and a pistol to attack him and drugging him with morphine, Greater Manchester Police said.
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The group, who received sentences totally more than 75 years, were caught after police traced their DNA and used mobile phone date to link them to the scene.
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The victim was found at an address in Irlam on 2 December after officers received an anonymous tip-off. Police said he had a burn mark on his hand and bruises on his body from where he had been hit with a weapon.
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He told officers he had been brought to the property against his will on 30 November with a bag over his head and had been held overnight twice before.
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On one occasion he was locked in a cupboard and violently assaulted, police said.
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The victim also told officers the group had only let him go after he had paid them currency worth more than £100,000, adding they had visited his home and threatened to assault him if he failed to do so.
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During the investigation police seized a gun, a magazine containing three rounds of ammunition, imitation weapons, knives, meat cleavers, a metal baseball bat, a machete, and a hammer.
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They also found electrical cables, ropes, and cable ties which were used to restrain the victim.
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GMP said the group was identified after documents belonging to one of the men were found at the property. Police were also able to identify DNA from several cigarette butts.
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Phone analysis also placed them all at the at the house in Irlam on relevant dates, police said.
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The men, who appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday were sentenced as follows:
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Jonathan Newns, 24, from Salford, was jailed for 20 years after he was found guilty of of attempted robbery, false imprisonment, kidnap, and possession of a prohibited firearm
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David Povey, 38, from Whitefield, was jailed for 20 years after he was found guilty of robbery, kidnap, false imprisonment, and attempted robbery
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Luke Johnson, 25, from Eccles, was jailed for 13 years and six months after he was found guilty of attempted robbery, false imprisonment and kidnap
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Gary Edwards, 47, from Cadishead, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and was jailed for 10 years and two months.
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Kane Godiff, 33, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and was jailed for seven years and five months
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Karl Johnson, 35, from Irlam, pleaded guilty to encouraging or assisting an offence of robbery and was jailed for three years
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Scott Armstrong, 39, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to transferring criminal property and was jailed for two years and four months
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Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
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================================================================================================
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generated from attacks-export-Gart-website.json + reported_K&R | case 169
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================================================================================================
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