Aramis Sullivan

Aramis Sullivan, formerly of Luton, was involved in a series of terrifying kidnappings and blackmail incidents targeting young victims in Northamptonshire. In August 2021, Sullivan, aged 19 at the time, along with Brandon Southall, approached two young men in a McDonald’s in Northampton. They intimidated the victims into leaving the premises and forced them to drive to Coventry under threats of harm. The perpetrators demanded £1,000 from the victims' relatives to secure their release. The victims managed to raise £500 from relatives and friends, which they bank transferred and withdrew, before being made to drive around for six hours, travelling to Birmingham and back to Northampton. They only escaped when Sullivan and Southall exited the car.

The day prior to this incident, Sullivan and another unnamed man threatened a 17-year-old boy on a Northampton footbridge, compelling his mother to travel to a secluded wooded area to pay £200 for her son's release. These events caused significant distress to both the victims and their families, as highlighted by Detective Sergeant Cory Wise of Northamptonshire Police, who stated: 'The victims in these incidents went through terrifying experiences at the hands of Sullivan and Southall, with their parents being put through equal distress wondering whether their children were going to be harmed or not.'

Sullivan's criminal history also included offences of attempted robbery, robbery, and fraud. He was sentenced at Northampton Crown Court in February to six years and three months in prison for three counts of blackmail, two counts of kidnap, and other related charges. Northamptonshire Police emphasised the seriousness of such crimes, noting that while incidents of kidnap and blackmail are rare in the area, they are dealt with quickly and robustly. Detective Sergeant Wise added: 'I am pleased with the sentences handed out in this case as they demonstrate the seriousness with which we, and the courts, take crimes such as this.' The case was reported by the PA News Agency and published in the Wandsworth Guardian on 19th April 2023.