FOUR men have been convicted in relation to a double kidnapping in Reading.

Following a four-week trial, Gavin Pasha, Klej Doci, and Erlin Demiraj, were found guilty of several different counts.

Pasha, 22, of Gray Street, Northampton, who was found guilty of two counts of false imprisonment and one count each of conspiracy to blackmail, conspiracy to kidnap and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

READ MORE: Death of three-year-old baby on holiday is still unknown

Doci, 20, of St Margaret’s Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, who was found guilty of two counts of false imprisonment and one count of conspiracy to kidnap. He was found not guilty of one count of conspiracy to blackmail and common assault.

Demiraj, 32, of Orts Road, Reading, who was found guilty of one count each of conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to blackmail. He pleaded guilty to one count of perverting the course of justice at the same court in February.

A fourth defendant, Garcon Lala, 28, of Eastern Road, Haringey, London, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of false imprisonment and one count each of conspiracy to blackmail, conspiracy to kidnap and assault occasioning actual bodily harm at the start of the trial.

They were all remanded in custody and are due to be sentenced at the same court on 28 September.

READ MORE: Fun day in memory of Olly Stephens to help kids spend less time online

Gentjan Kica, 34, of Glenrosa Road, Reading, was found not guilty of one count of conspiracy to blackmail.

At about 6.30pm on 8 December 2021, Pasha, Doci and Lala kidnapped two men in their twenties in a car park on Maiden Place, Lower Earley, before driving away in several vehicles.

At Reading Crown Court, the jury heard it was over an alleged £100,000 drug debt.

After being held captive for five days, the victims were safeguarded by police in Northampton in the early hours of December 13, 2021.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Helen Gilbert, of the Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: “This was a frightening incident for the victims who were taken against their will and held captive for five days.

“I am pleased that the dangerous individuals involved in this incident have been convicted for their actions by the jury.

“Thames Valley Police will never tolerate this sort of offending and this case shows that we will work tirelessly to bring offenders to justice.

READ MORE: Police made almost 50 arrests over Reading Festival weekend

“My thanks go to our colleagues at Northamptonshire Police for their support in rescuing the victims, as well as South East Regional Organised Crime Unit, the National Crime Agency and our international law enforcement partners for detaining Erlind Demiraj in the Netherlands.”