Former Gladiator Jailed for Part in Blackmail Scheme
Man kidnapped and held in Acton flat over £600 debt
Jefferson King after his most recent arrest. Picture: Metropolitan Police
Michael Jefferson King, the former star of the hit nineties TV show Gladiators, who lives in Acton, has been jailed for his part in a kidnapping and blackmail plot.
He was imprisoned along with three other people from the Acton area after a man was taking against his will and held at an address in Burlington Gardens to try and force his family to pay a debt.
60-year-old King of Birbeck Grove received a sentence of six years and three months for blackmail. Simon Batson of Burlington Gardens, aged 39, was jailed for six years and nine months for the same offence. Both men had pleaded guilty to the charge in July. King and Batson were also both charged with false imprisonment. These counts will lie on file.
41-year-old Donna Harman of Burlington Gardens was jailed for four years after being found guilty of false imprisonment and blackmail whilst 45-year-old Otis Noel received seven years and six months for the same offences. They had both been found guilty of the charges back in May.
King played Shadow in the hugely popular Saturday night show. The former bodybuilder was sacked after testing positive for steroids in 1995 and addiction to heroin and crack cocaine led to the loss of his home, a number of prison sentences and estrangement from his family.
After a period in rehab he managed to get off drugs and resumed his relationship with his children and worked as a drug rehabilitation counsellor but more recently his problems have resumed and last March he was charged with heroin possession.
Formerly 18-stone and heavily muscled he now has lost a significant amount of weight and looks gaunt in the picture released by the police.
Left to right: Donna Harman, Simon Batson and Otis Noel
Isleworth Crown Court heard how on 22 March 2020 40-year-old Aaron Ali was taken hostage after he had allegedly incurred a £600 debt. The convicted four had been smoking drugs, when the plot to raise money in this way was hatched.
His captors made threats to his life and demands for repayment while assaulting their prisoner leaving him with bruises to his face and body.
At approximately 2pm the same day Mr Ali’s mother Nosheen Zarait and brother Tariq started to receive phone calls demanding up to £1,000 for his release. The gang also sent videos of Mr Ali being violently assaulted to encourage them to pay the ransom.
The family then called the police and the ransom was eventually paid by a third party and the victim was released after being held four six hours and then treated in hospital for his injuries.
Detectives from the Met's Flying Squad led the investigation and were able to identify Noel, King, Batson and Harman. They were arrested and the victim's mobile phone, and the phone that was used to make the demands, were found during a property search. Using call data analysis, witness statements, CCTV and forensics a case was built against the four suspects.
Jefferson King during his time on Gladiators. Picture: Facebook
Detective Constable Glenn Peach, of the Met's Flying Squad, said, "The fear and panic the victim and his family went through at the hands of these attackers should not be underestimated. The false imprisonment, assault and severe threats will stay with those affected for a long time.
"At the very least, we hope the victim and his family will take some comfort in the fact that these offenders have been brought to justice. We are glad that the sentences handed out reflect the severity and inexcusable nature of the crimes that took place."
Along with another man called Simon Batson, King has admitted two charges of blackmail at Isleworth Crown Court. They have been remanded in custody pending the conclusion of the trial of the other alleged blackmailers.
42-year-old Donna Harman, 45-year-old Otis Noel, and Michael Tyson and his wife Shila, both aged 55, have all denied charges including false imprisonment, blackmail and aiding and abetting false imprisonment.
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August 30, 2021