Two men have been jailed for kidnapping a man at gunpoint and blackmailing his family.

Carlos Boente, 38, and Aqeel Smith, 20, kidnapped the victim from outside his home in Leyton in October last year.

The pair were locked up for a total of 17 years following a three-week-long trial.

Police were called shortly after 10.30pm on October 25, 2018, by a man who told officers his brother-in-law had been dragged into a vehicle at gunpoint.

Soon after, the victim’s wife received calls from her husband’s phone, demanding a ransom of between £2,000 and £5,000.

The hostage was released following a two-hour long ordeal; no money was exchanged.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Carlos Boente. Photo: Met Police

He sustained minor injuries and had a gun held to his chest and throat, and had a knife prodded into his head, the court heard.

The victim had previously undertaken some work repairing mobile phones for Boente and Smith.

Call data analysis and forensics on the car used in the kidnap - which had been identified using CCTV – led detectives to Smith and Boente.

They were arrested in October 2018 in possession of the victim’s mobile phone, along with a replica firearm.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Aqeel Smith. Photo: Met Police

Acting detective chief inspector Rick Sewart, from the Met’s Flying Squad, said: “This was a terrifying experience for the victim, who was bundled into a car and threatened with both a gun and a knife during his two-hour long ordeal.

“We may never know exactly why the victim was kidnapped, but it is due to the hard work and diligence of my detectives that they were able to identify and apprehend these two men, and ensure that they have faced justice and a substantial custodial sentence.”

Boente, of Edwin Street, Canning Town, was found guilty of kidnap, possession of a firearm whilst committing a Schedule 1 offence, blackmail and theft.

He was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years’ imprisonment at Snaresbrook Crown Court today (Friday, November 22).

Smith, 20, of High Road, Romford, was found guilty of kidnap, possession of a firearm whilst committing a Schedule 1 offence, blackmail and theft.

He was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment at the same court.