Eight years jail for blackmailer

Lee Taberer . . . caught in operation involving 90 police officers

Victim terrorised in phone calls demanding £1m

AN Oldham blackmailer terrorised a wealthy businessman, threatening to kidnap his family if he didn’t hand over £1 million.

Lee Taberer masqueraded as a notorious gangster during a series of menacing phone calls, insisting his victim — a married father-of-three — owed him a massive debt.

With accomplice, Dialjit Rana, he rang the victim at his luxury home in Oadby, Leicestershire, saying they knew all about him and his property investment companies.

They were found to have a dossier on the businessman, including aerial photographs of his house and a picture of his wife.

Taberer (39) and Rana (33) were both jailed for eight years at Leicester Crown Court on Wednesday after admitting blackmail.

Taberer, of Dryclough Walk, Royton, first spoke to the victim on January 11 demanding cash, claiming to have strangled someone to get his telephone number.

He purported to be a gangster called Paul Massey, described as the “hardest man” in Manchester and the “Mr Big” of Salford.

The businessman checked Massey’s name on the internet and had every reason to be in fear, said Christopher Kessling, prosecuting.

Taberer told him: “I can come to your house with 50 guys.”

Rana, of Houghton on the Hill, Leicestershire, also phoned, saying: “You now know who you’re messing with. I know who you are. I want the £1 million back, or crack-cocaine.”

Taberer, in one of several calls made on unregistered phones, also said: “You’re not taking this seriously. I’m going to kidnap or take members of your family.

“I’m threatening you. I’m going to do something tomorrow and then you’ll take notice.”

When the victim alerted police, an operation involving up to 90 Leicestershire officers ws launched.

Using mobile phone cell site information, it was discovered that on January 16 the defendants were both at a hotel car park off the M6, near Stafford, when Rana made a call that was recorded.

The hotel had CCTV and the defendants movements in their vehicles were tracked by automatic number plate recognition cameras.

Both men were arrested at home, simultaneously, on January 26.

The dossier on the victim was found in Taberer’s car along with his unregistered phone, which he had topped up with his own credit card.

Sentencing, Judge Ebraham Mooncey said “You played an active part in effectively terrorising that family.

“It was a carefully planned activity. You were working in a group or a gang. Intimidation was used. There was a degree of professionalism.

“The police did a very thorough investigation of which we should be proud and the police should be complimented for.”

Taberer has a substantial criminal record and, in 1996, was jailed for 12 years for conspiracy to rob.

Simon Csoka, defending Taberer, said he was an experienced debt collector and during some calls the gangster Paul Massey was present. He claimed the defendant originally thought a £1 million debt was owed and was following Rana’s instructions, expecting a £20,000 pay-out.

Khurram Arif, for Rana, said the entire enterprise was at the behest of his brother, currently serving a jail sentence for a similar offence.