A violent kidnapper who ambushed and pistol-whipped a man in a mystery attack in South Norwood has been jailed for 11 years.

Fitzroy Masters, 35, arranged to meet his victim at an address in Chalfont Road, before attacking him and bundling him into a car helped by a gang of men and women.

Inside the vehicle the gang assaulted the victim and pistol-whipped him, before dumping him out of the car and driving off.

Police found the injured man in Beulah Hill, near the junction of Grange Road, at 9.30pm on October 5 last year after receiving reports of a man being assaulted.

The 37-year-old was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Masters, of Edmonton, and two other people - a man and a woman - were arrested between October 7 and 9 and later charged with kidnap, false imprisonment, causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

A fourth man was later identified and arrested and charged with similar offences.

Throughout the entire police investigation and trial, no one - neither the defendants or the victim - revealed a motive for the attack.

Following a five-week trial at Croydon Croydon Court, Masters was found guilty on Friday of one count of kidnap, one count of GBH with intent and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

He was jailed for eight years for GBH and three years for the kidnap, to be served concurrently. He was also given an additional three years for the possession of a firearm.

Detective Inspector Rob Allen from Croydon police said: "I am pleased with the conviction and sentencing of Masters. It is the culmination of relentless work by officers from Croydon Borough's CID to bring a violent offender to justice, made possible by the team work between officers, the CPS and prosecution counsel."

The three other people charged with Masters - Marcus Harris, 40, Lakehall Road, Thornton Heath, Kiara Henry, 30, of Edmonton, and Marcus Hamilton, 45, of no fixed address - were all found not guilty of kidnap, GBH with intent and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

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