Northolt Man Jailed for Kidnapping Pregnant Woman
Part of a gang that threatened to cut off her fingers if demands not met
Audi Johnson (left) and the van used to kidnap the woman. Picture: Met Police
August 14, 2025
A 35-year-old man from Northolt has been sentenced to five years and four months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to kidnap. His conviction follows a Metropolitan Police investigation into the abduction of a pregnant woman in Enfield in May 2024.
Audi Johnson of Cranberry Close, Northolt was one of three men convicted in connection with the crime. The others—Ahmad Ghiasi, 26, of Luton, and Nicholas Mitchell, 55, of Barnet—received sentences of seven and nine years respectively, following a six-week trial at Kingston Crown Court.
The case centred on the kidnapping of a 36-year-old woman who was six months pregnant at the time. She was taken from outside her home and held in a van, where she was bound and threatened. The perpetrators made phone calls to her partner, demanding money and valuables, saying they would cut off the woman’s fingers.
According to police, Johnson was part of a London-based group contracted to carry out the abduction. The victim later escaped and sought safety at her mother’s house after flagging down a taxi. Forensic evidence, including DNA, fingerprints, and mobile phone data, played a key role in identifying the suspects.
Detective Inspector Ari Yoganathan of the Met’s Flying Squad, which led the investigation, described the incident as a “disgusting and terrifying crime.” He credited the use of CCTV analysis and intelligence gathering in securing the convictions.
In a statement read during sentencing, the victim described the lasting impact of the ordeal on her life and pregnancy.
She said: “The incident ruined my life. I will never be the same person again. I am having to start my life all over again.
“I will forever have fear and paranoia as part of my life now. I didn’t deserve to be a victim of what happened to me. And to top it off, it was all made so much worse by being pregnant.
“This will always be something that will be part of my pregnancy, which is meant to be a happy experience, and will always be something that is a part of my daughter.”
She has not returned to her home since the incident and continues to experience trauma related to the events.
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