Group jailed for over 36 years for kidnap and torture in Dorking
Police located the victim and rescued him.
A group responsible for kidnapping and torturing a man from Dorking has been sentenced to more than 36 years in prison collectively, following convictions and guilty pleas at Guildford Crown Court.
Reece Armstrong, 30, from Staines-upon-Thames, and Tarelle Thompson, 28, from Croydon, were found guilty of conspiracy to kidnap after a six-week trial in December 2025.
Armstrong was also convicted of grievous bodily harm, with two counts of possessing an offensive weapon.
Thompson additionally faced a charge of possession of an offensive weapon.
Lorna Swyer, 21, from Dorking, and Sebastian Love, 21, from Merton, both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap.
On 20th February, they received the following sentences: Reece Armstrong received nine years imprisonment, consecutive to a five-year unrelated sentence imposed in July 2025.
Tarelle Thompson was sentenced to nine years imprisonment and five years on license.
Lorna Swyer and Sebastian Love were each sentenced to three years and four months imprisonment.
Levi Burton, 31, from Leatherhead, found guilty of sexual assault and had already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap, false imprisonment, and assaulting a police officer, was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment and five years on license on 23rd February.
Burton will also be on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
The Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team launched an investigation following a call from a neighbour at 12:20 pm, 26th April 2025, reporting the kidnap of a 38-year-old man by masked individuals.
The victim was taken to Reigate, subjected to intimidation involving two agitated dogs, before further assaults occurred at an address in Farnborough, Hampshire.
The victim was sexually assaulted, with demands for release made to his brother the following day.
Hampshire Constabulary successfully located the victim at Farnborough.
Burton, Swyer, Thompson, and Armstrong were arrested and charged, with inquiries revealing Love's involvement in demand calls, leading to his arrest and charge.
Detective Chief Inspector Kimball Edey, Senior Investigating Officer, stated: “As soon as we became aware that a kidnap had taken place, officers worked at pace to locate the victim as quickly as possible.
He was located the day after he’d been kidnapped, and had been subjected to what amounted to torture at the hands of Armstrong, Burton, Love, Swyer, and Thompson.
No one should have to endure the ordeal they had put him through, and the sentencing today has ensured they will spend a long time in prison, where they belong.”