A man who tried to kidnap the assistant manager of a west London boutique at gunpoint outside her Shepherd’s Bush home has been jailed.
Benson Igbokwe and an accomplice had hoped to bundle the terrified victim into the back of a waiting van and whisk her to the Kensington store, where they would use her set of keys to enter and rob the boutique.
But his plans fell apart when she escaped from their clutches and ran for help.
At Isleworth Crown Court, the 44-year-old from Streatham was found guilty of conspiracy to kidnap and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
During a trial, the court was told Igbokwe had followed his victim on many occasions as he carried out recces for the attempted robbery.
He struck in February 2013 as the victim returned home after work. As she got to the communal door to her flat she noticed two men wearing high visibility jackets standing outside the entrance.
As she walked into the courtyard, one man approached her with a gun while another blocked the door.
She thought they were after her handbag but when they asked for her keys she said she was visiting a friend. She was then asked for the shop keys.
With the gun now pointed at her head, the victim said she did not have the set of keys, to which the man said: “Yes you do because you locked up tonight. We followed you.”
She was ordered to get into a van parked outside but as she walked through the communal door, the victim ran to a nearby shop screaming for help and called the police.
During their investigation, officers learned Igbokwe carried out surveillance on the woman, parking outside the store at closing time as well as outside her flat when she arrived home.
At one point, the victim became suspicious of the vehicle and made a note of the registration number, which was registered to Igbokwe.
Police enquiries also revealed that Igbokwe had hired a white van on the day of the offence and phone records showed that his mobile phone was being used within the vicinity of the store and her flat.
He was arrested on March 7 2013 and later charged with conspiracy to kidnap. A second man was arrested in April 2013 and also charged with conspiracy to kidnap but was later acquitted of the offence.
Igbokwe was sentenced on April 2.
Acting Detective Sergeant Aretha Guernah, from Hammersmith & Fulham CID, said: “I cannot imagine the fear that the victim went through having a gun pointed at her head and knowing that the men were trying to kidnap her.
“I would like to praise her for her courage and bravery in having to recall this terrible ordeal over and over again whilst giving evidence to the courts and assisting with our investigation.
“I hope this sentence brings some comfort to the victim that a dangerous man has been locked up and a warning to others who look to follow in Igbokwe’s footsteps that the police will catch you and bring you before the courts.”
