A blindfolded Chinaman was taunted about his love life, forced to sing songs and was repeatedly beaten while held captive, a court heard.

Illegal immigrant Chen Fen Xiang, 20, was taken hostage last June, and wept as he told Kingston Crown Court how his distraught mum in China, begged for his life after his captors called her so she could hear him beaten up.

The family's number had allegedly been forced out of him while he was held for a ransom of £35,000 in a flat above Wings Chinese Takeaway in Western Road, Billericay, and later in a council tower block in Acton, south west London.

Two Billericay Chinese restaurant workers, a Laindon asylum seeker, another Billericay Chinaman, five other Chinese and two Chinese women deny three counts of conspiring to falsely imprison and conspiring to blackmail five hostages, including Mr Fen, between June 5 and 15 last year.

The defendants include Chong Chen Jia, 23, of Royal Court, Basildon, Leung Fook, 32, and Chef Law Man, 30, both of Chapel Court, Billericay.

The case continues

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