A MAN was kidnapped and a gun was pointed to his head as he was robbed of £20,000 by a gang, a court heard.

The victim was allegedly forced to drive from Benfleet to Stifford Clays to collect the money in cash and hand it over to the gang.

Jade Quinn, 34, of Norfolk Close, Canvey and Stephen Musgrove, 24, of York Road, Southend are both are on trial charged with conspiring to kidnap and conspiring to commit robbery.

Shorn Charles-Chance and Karl Curtis, both 34, of Wanstead Lane, Ilford, are on trial charged with conspire to kidnap, conspire to commit robbery and possessing imitation firearm.

Charles-Chance is also charged with blackmail.

The court heard the victim was targeted in Benfleet at the junction of London Road, Lambeth Road and Hadleigh Gardens where he agreed to meet Curtis last September.

Prosecuting Claire Howell said: “The victim having been told to meet them and being unsuspecting of what they were going to do met with CharlesChance and noticed Musgrove with him.

“Musgrove tells the victim he has been “taking the piss”

and they want their money and Charles-Chance makes serious threats including threats to stab the victim.

“He also has what the victim says was a black hand gun, this was never recovered. One man gets in his car with a gun to his head tells him they want £20,000 and to get it.

“He drives to his parents house in Stifford Clays and he’s seen leaving the house with the bag of cash.”

The jury was told the following day Charles-Chance called and tried to pressurise the victim into handing over £30,000.

The court heard CharlesChance threatened to kill the victim and his family if the money was not paid.

Prosecuting Claire Howell added: “The victim was terrified and panicking and it was clear they knew where he and his parents lived and also he thought they had a gun.

“The calls and messages were incessant and it’s clear from call logs the pressure on him.”

“There were also messages and calls showing there was planning of the incident.”

The trial continues.