City worker kidnapped in wrench attack by five men in Hertfordshire
St Albans Crown Court delivers sentences after gruesome ordeal
Five men have been sentenced for a wrench attack that involved kidnapping a City worker from Hertfordshire and stealing over £10,000 from his bank and cryptocurrency accounts.
The sentencing took place at St Albans Crown Court on 18th May, following a guilty verdict for four of the men on charges of conspiracy to rob, kidnap, and false imprisonment at the same court on 5th February. A fifth man was found guilty of money laundering offenses.
The court heard that the wrench attack began on the evening of 3rd July 2025, when the victim was out drinking with friends in Shoreditch, east London. During the night, he was befriended by four men who later forced him to return to his home. The following morning, the victim awoke with facial injuries, missing personal items, and discovered that over £10,000 had been taken from his accounts.
The perpetrators forced the victim to access his bank and cryptocurrency accounts using facial verification, prompting Hertfordshire Constabulary to investigate after receiving an alert from Coinbase about suspicious activity on the victim's cryptocurrency account.
The five appeared at St Albans Crown Court for sentencing where:
Brandon Stephenson, 25, of Ilford received five and a half years in jail and was ordered to pay £300 in compensation.
Jason Kareem, 23, of southeast London was sentenced to six and a half years, which includes additional time for breaching suspended sentences. He was also ordered to pay £300 in compensation.
Jerome Denton, 39, of southeast London was jailed for six years.
Royan Campbell, 20, of Ilford was sentenced to three years and six months in prison.
Rayshon Keena, 20, of Romford received a two-year community order, 150 days of unpaid work, and £500 in compensation for money laundering.
Detective Chief Inspector Nick Gardner described the ordeal as having lasting emotional and financial consequences for the victim, emphasising the distress of having been violated in one's own home.
The victim shared the immense strain the crime had put on him and his family, affecting his mental health and social life. "For a long time following, I had trouble sleeping," he said, fearing strangers had access to his personal information. His partner echoed feelings of stress, saying she was "on edge" when her partner was out.
For those wishing to report information, contact the police online, via web chat, or by calling 101. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111 or via their online form. In emergencies, dial 999.