A HONEYTRAP gang lured a lovesick colleague into a flat and battered him over a Facebook relationship status.
Steven Baker, 60, and his son Matthew Baker, 29, came up with the plot to attack Anthony Cooper when his ex confirmed on social media they were back together.
BirminghamLive/BPMShannon Wolleter lured a man into a flat so he could be violently attacked[/caption]
FacebookShe messaged Anthony Cooper saying she ‘really, really likes him’[/caption]
The younger Baker had apparently been in a relationship with the woman in the past and his dad also did not approve of her moving on, Birmingham Live reports.
After first falsely branding Anthony a “paedophile, rapist and sex offender”, the pair decided to enlist the help of Shannon Wolleter.
She messaged Anthony in a bid to lure him to a flat in Birmingham – claiming she had broken up with her own partner Daniel Aston – known as Paddy.
Wolleter, 29, told the victim she “really, really likes him”, causing Anthony to respond: “I’m scared of Paddy, he will kill me.”
The honeytrap then told him: “No he won’t, I’m single now, I’m not with him anymore.”
After succeeding in the vile plan, Wolleter messaged Steven and Matthew Baker, saying: “Got him.”
The court heard Steven Baker then bundled Anthony into his Mercedes when he made his way to the agreed rendezvous point.
Once inside the flat, Matthew Baker told the terrified victim he was going to cut off his legs and tongue while Aston throttled and punched him.
David Bambrough, whose home was used for the attack, joined in by kicking Anthony before he was battered over the head with a metal bar by the older Baker.
At one point the gang drove Anthony to a park where the horrifying assault continued.
Prosecutor Lynette McClement said: “Then he was subjected to a particularly unpleasant attack on the ground involving Wolleter, kicking and standing on his genitals.
“Aston and Matthew and Steven Baker are all kicking him while on the ground, kicking him to the ribs and back.
“He remembers screaming ‘you are hurting me’ and remembers Steven Baker saying ‘good, you deserve it’, and he didn’t know why he deserved it.”
Anthony was eventually let go but not before his phone and bank card were taken by the thugs.
He was found unconscious on his doorstep by his flatmates and rushed to hospital with serious injuries.
The five defendants, who all worked at a homeless charity, were due to go on trial but pleaded guilty to the offences against them.
Wolleter admitted kidnap and unlawful wounding after luring Anthony to the attack.
The Bakers pleaded guilty to kidnap and unlawful wounding.
Aston admitted kidnap, robbery and unlawful wounding, while Bambrough pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
All five will be sentenced at a later date.
BirminghamLive/BPMMatthew Baker had previously been involved with the victim’s new girlfriend[/caption]
BirminghamLive/BPMHe and dad Steven Baker, pictured, hatched the plan to attack Anthony[/caption]
FacebookThey enlisted the help of Wolleter to trick Anthony[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
