Swanley and Bromley men on trial accused of demanding £10k in Mercedes blackmail bid on Whitstable man
11:00, 17 January 2020
updated: 12:07, 17 January 2020
A “threatening” duo stole a man’s car after demanding thousands of pounds in a blackmail scam, a court heard.
Michael Hay, 28, from Bromley, and Wayne Farrell, 41, from Swanley, ordered an alleged £10,000 debt from Kelvin Napungwana at his parents’ home in Whitstable.
The pair deny blackmail charges and are on trial this week at Canterbury Crown Court.
Son and father Kelvin and Noble Napungwana told jurors both men, allegedly unknown to them, ordered the cash to be paid to an unknown man.
But when they refused the defendants reportedly made off with their Mercedes and continued demanding money via telephone.
Kelvin, 25, told jurors he felt intimidated when the suspects appeared to “get a thrill” from making their demands.
Asked why he didn’t contact police immediately after the alleged crime on April 18, Kelvin replied: “Their behaviour. It was a warm day, and during all of that time one of the defendants had gloves on the whole time.”
The court heard Noble answered the door to be confronted by Hay, of Ringers Road, and Farrell, of Lullingstone Avenue, requesting to talk to his son.
Kelvin told jurors the pair claimed he owed £10,000 to a man named Tony Barrett, who he had never met.
He added the duo drove him to the Oyster Bed and Mcdonald’s in Thanet Way, where the threats intensified after some food and drink, before returning home.
“What happened next?” prosecutor Simon Blackford asked.
“I was told they were going to take the car until I could come up with 10 grand.
“I was completely shocked, I was confused,” he replied.
Noble added Farrell entered his home making threats to his son, as Hay got inside the Mercedes.
“That is when they said we will take Kelvin’s car,” he added.
Noble added he wanted to alert police but his wife, the car’s owner, and Kelvin decided not to.
A week later, Kevin allegedly contacted a phone number left by the men requesting the car’s return.
“They told me I needed 10 grand or to locate Tony (Barrett),” he said.
He told jurors: “I didn’t know who Tony Barrett was and I didn’t have 10 grand - the car was gone.”
Hay, represented by Tom Flavin and Farrell, represented by Isobel Mccarroll, are charged with blackmail and theft of a vehicle.
The trial continues.
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