A bungling gang abandoned a pensioner they locked in the boot of his own electric car after the vehicle's battery ran out of power during their getaway. The 71-year-old victim was snatched from his home in Torquay, Devon, after burglars saw Instagram posts of him wearing luxury watches.
The man told Exeter Crown Court that he thought he was going to die as his hands were cable-tied, his mouth taped up, and he was bundled into the back of his electric car. His kidnappers planned to take him to an address in London where they believed more watches were stored.
Getaway Foiled by Empty Battery
Two members of the gang, Altan O'Connell and Luke McInerney, were driving up the M5 when the battery ran critically low. They put the man in the boot, abandoned the car in a country lane near Puriton, Somerset, and fled on foot.
The victim managed to free himself from the cable ties, escape from the boot, find the keys, and use the last bit of battery power to drive to a nearby supermarket, where he raised the alarm. In a statement to the court, he said: "I became genuinely frightened and believed I was likely to die."
Sentences Handed Down at Exeter Crown Court
The gang was sentenced at Exeter Crown Court on Tuesday, July 14. Franklin O'Dwyer, 25, of Ermin Street, Swindon, was sentenced to 10 years and five months after pleading guilty to false imprisonment and possession with intent to supply cannabis. O'Connell, 27, of Highdown Way, pleaded guilty to kidnap, false imprisonment, and handling stolen goods. He was sentenced to 11 years and 10 months, plus additional time for dangerous driving and possession of cocaine after a police pursuit in Swindon on October 19, 2025.
McInerney, 31, of Bath Road, pleaded guilty to kidnap, false imprisonment, handling stolen goods, and possessing counterfeit currency. He was sentenced to 11 years and 10 months. Nicholas O'Dwyer, 56, of Groundswell Road, pleaded guilty to possessing counterfeit currency and was sentenced to six years and three months. Dwain Stratford, 35, of Beech Avenue, was sentenced to four years and eight months. Karl Houghton, 36, of Elgin Drive, was sentenced to four years.
How the Gang Operated
The court heard that the gang's botched kidnap attempt led police straight to them. O'Dwyer, O'Connell, and McInerney were involved in the initial kidnapping, breaking into the man's home at 1 am on January 14. The men admitted they often picked their targets by watching videos on Instagram. When the victim told the gang his watches had already been stolen, they kidnapped him anyway.
After police linked the gang to similar crimes across the south-west, they pleaded guilty to multiple offences, including kidnap, false imprisonment, burglary, possession of drugs, handling stolen goods, and counterfeit currency. Specialist officers reviewed phones linked to the group and found Instagram search terms related to jobs in Torquay and Southampton. The gang also used open-source research tools to gather information and plan their crimes.
Police Seizures and Warning
When the gang members were arrested, officers found stolen vehicles, multiple watches, jewellery, designer handbags, drones, and cash at various addresses. Detective Inspector Tom Canning said: "This case has involved a significant investigation involving multiple forces, specialist technical investigative skills, and collating a case which ultimately resulted in six guilty pleas. Social media is a common part of modern life, but this case is a reminder that it does come with risks and is an example of how people can seek out and use that information against you if they have ill intention. I would urge people to consider what they post onto social media and into the public domain. Do you know what information could be extracted from your pictures or video and even who can see them?"
