Lorna Swyer

Lorna Swyer, 20, from Dorking, admitted guilt to charges of kidnapping and common assault at Guildford Crown Court, as part of a broader case concluding on 10 December 2025 after a six-week trial. Her involvement in the 26 April 2025 incident contributed to the kidnapping and torture of a local man by a criminal gang.

A neighbour alerted police at lunchtime upon seeing balaclava-wearing men abduct the victim. The group relocated him to Reigate, where he was blindfolded, force-fed, and menaced by dogs, before transferring to Farnborough for escalated abuse. Swyer took part in the overall ordeal, which included sexual abuse, repeated beatings with punches and kicks, burns, whippings, a foot stabbing, coerced crack pipe use, and paint sprayed on wounds for added torment.

Police traced ransom demands made to the victim's brother the following day to the Farnborough site, leading to arrests including Swyer's and recovery of a related phone. Detective Chief Inspector Kimball Edey, the Senior Investigating Officer, noted: "My team worked at pace to locate the victim... he had still been subjected to what amounted to torture at the hands of Armstrong, Burton, Love, Swyer and Thompson... their convictions have ensured they have been brought to justice for their heinous actions."

Swyer's admissions underscore her role in the violent crimes. Sentencing is scheduled for 19 and 20 February 2026 at Guildford Crown Court. Surrey Police led the investigation, demonstrating commitment to tackling such offences in Surrey and East Hampshire.