Kidnapping Lapdancers cleared

Three lapdancers and their manager have been cleared of kidnapping a Gloucestershire club boss.

Curtis Woodman alleged the four women and two men forced him into a car and robbed him in September 2012.

Dancers Mandy Cool, Rachel Goodchild and Stephanie Pye, and manager Charlotte Devaney, had worked for him during the Cheltenham Hunt Festival.

Brothers Robert Morris, 27, and Alexander Morris, 23, were also cleared of kidnap.

During the trial DJ and Manager Ms Devany told Bristol Crown Court Mr Woodman had invented the kidnap to avoid paying them £42,000.

The £42,000 sum was allegedly taken from the credit card of a single customer on one night.

The dispute began when the club which had failed to secure a lap dancing license was shut down by officials.

When asked for payment Mr Woodman claimed that as the dancers had breached contract they were not entitled to any share of the profits

Mr Woodman claimed he was then forced into a BMW, threatened with a knife and robbed of £60 cash and his £4,650 Breitling watch.

He also said he was made to transfer £4,800 into Ms Devaney's bank account.

Ms Devaney, from London, Ms Cool, 29, of Southampton, Ms Pye, 31, from Sutton Coldfield and Ms Goodchild, 24, also from Southampton, were cleared by the jury following a three-and-a-half-week trial.

Alex Morris, 23, and Robert Morris, 27, both from Southampton, also denied two counts of robbery.

Alex Morris was convicted of the two robbery charges, while Robert Morris was cleared of both charges.

Alex Morris, who previously admitted carrying a Stanley knife on the day of the incident, will be sentenced on 10 February.