Kidnap victim thought he was going to die

Appearing for sentence at the High Court in Edinburgh on Wednesday, Steven Green (43), of Buie Rigg, Kirkliston, and Alan D’Ambrosio (51), formerly of Brighouse Park Cross, Edinburgh, were both jailed for seven years for their crimes.

The pair targeted a former stockbroker and attempted extortion after he had negotiated to buy a company from Green, but had not yet paid the money. They subsequently took part in a plot to abduct the man following a business meeting at a farm steading in West Lothian.

The 55-year-old victim was beaten up, trussed and hooded, and forced into a van. During the attack the man was repeatedly hit on the head with a weapon and had bleach poured on him.

He was also robbed of a wallet, phone and car keys during his ordeal.

At the High Court trial the victim said: “I didn’t think I was going to come back out of that, quite honestly. I thought I was going to die, quite frankly.”

He said his attackers were dressed in black, wearing balaclavas.

He was told he had seven days to get the money and was warned they knew where his family was.

Green, who ran venture capital firm Pentland Capital and held an interest in Glencairn Risk Solutions, which was co-owned by D’Ambrosio, had denied assaulting, abducting and attempting to extort money from the victim on April 25 in 2014 at West Philpstoun Steadings, Philpstoun.

However, both Green and D’Ambrosio were convicted by a jury last month of committing the crime while acting with others unknown.