Three men have been jailed for more than eight years each after kidnapping a Jewish-Israeli music producer in a targeted attack that a judge described as being motivated by antisemitic hatred.
The victim, Itay Kashti, was lured from London to a remote property in west Wales, where he was beaten, handcuffed to a radiator, and threatened with death before managing to escape.
Meticulously planned kidnapping
The gang of three men, Faiz Shah, 23, Mohammad Comrie, 23, and Elijah Ogunnubi-Sime, 20, plotted the abduction in detail via a Telegram group chat before carrying out their attack on 26 August last year.
They posed as representatives of a reputable music production company and invited Mr Kashti to a fake music workshop at a secluded cottage in Brynteg, near Llanybydder, west Wales.
They rented the property for a week under false identities and arranged a taxi to bring Mr Kashti to the location. Upon his arrival, they ambushed him and the taxi driver, but fled when the driver managed to escape and alert police.
The three defendants were later found hiding in nearby fields and were swiftly arrested.
Sentencing and judge’s remarks
At Swansea Crown Court on Friday, Judge Catherine Richards sentenced Shah, of Leeds, and Comrie, of Bradford, to eight years and one month in prison, while Ogunnubi-Sime, of Wallington, was given eight years and one month in detention.
She also imposed a 15-year restraining order against all three men.
Judge Richards condemned their actions, stating:
“This offence involved significant and highly sophisticated planning. None of you knew the victim. He was an entirely innocent, hard-working music producer that you had identified as a victim based on your understanding of his wealth and his Jewish heritage.”
The judge highlighted how the gang used stolen identities, multiple burner phones, and planned escape routes, as well as methods to launder any ransom money through cryptocurrency.
She said the isolated location was carefully chosen to ensure the victim was completely defenceless.
“His ability to defend himself or seek assistance was intended to be impossible. It would have added to his sense of fear and desperation.”
Violence and threats
The defendants wore masks and launched a violent attack on Mr Kashti as soon as he arrived.
He was kicked repeatedly in the head, handcuffed to a radiator, and told he would be killed if he tried to escape.
Messages recovered from their phones revealed a chilling level of premeditation, including plans to incapacitate him with ketamine.
A fake pistol was also found at the scene.
The defendants’ conversations included references to Mr Kashti’s Jewish identity, with messages about his participation in pro-Israeli marches and comments on Palestinian land.
“It seems to me that you justified your actions against the victim based on his background, as if he was less worthy of your respect and compassion. That is utterly abhorrent,” the judge said.
Victim’s ordeal
Mr Kashti described the kidnapping as his ‘personal October 7’, referencing the Hamas terror attack in Israel last year.
“I was kicked to the head several times, handcuffed to a radiator, and forced to lie down on the floor. I was threatened and told if I tried to escape, I’d be killed,” he told the court.
“The awful attack of 7th October was flashing through my mind as I lay restrained on the floor in handcuffs.”
After realising his attackers had left the property, he managed to free himself from the radiator and hid in nearby bushes, where he called his wife, who then alerted police.
Images from the crime scene showed bloodstains on the floor, along with cable ties and other restraints used to subdue him.
Investigation and community reaction
Prosecutor Craig Jones described how the gang exchanged messages on how to make their fake music company appear legitimate and compiled a ‘shopping list’ for the abduction, which included:
- Face masks and gloves
- A gag and blindfold
- Handcuffs and cable ties
- Rental cars for transport
Mark Gardner, chief executive of the Community Security Trust (CST), which supported Mr Kashti and his family, praised prosecutors for securing justice.
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“The combination of criminality and anti-Jewish hatred could easily have resulted in a far worse, perhaps even fatal, outcome.
We will continue to work with the police and all other partners to ensure the safety of our Jewish community and to bring perpetrators of antisemitism to justice.”
Inspector Gareth Jones, of Dyfed-Powys Police, described the harrowing nature of the crime and its impact on the victim.
“This sentence today reflects the severity of this offence and the ordeal the victim suffered – and we hope it gives the victim a sense of justice.
We thank him for his strength, bravery, and patience whilst we carried out a thorough investigation into what was an extraordinary crime.”
Conclusion
The sentencing of the three men marks the end of a shocking case, in which a Jewish-Israeli composer was kidnapped and brutalised in a hate-fuelled attack.
With rising concerns over antisemitic incidents in the UK, this case serves as a stark reminder of the need for continued vigilance and protection for Jewish communities.
The severe prison sentences reflect the gravity of the crime, while police and community leaders continue to work together to prevent future attacks.
