Overview

• Adlan Haji, Alexander Khalil, Omar Sharif and Davina Raaymakers pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court and remain in custody pending sentencing.
• The gang lured celebrity barber Quentin Cepeljac to London in May 2024 with false social media promises and held him at an Airbnb while threatening him with knives and a machete.
• Perpetrators initially demanded £500,000 in cryptocurrency before discovering his accounts held just £6.71 and accepting the £2,000 he had on hand.
• Belgian police and London’s Metropolitan Police Flying Squad coordinated after a coerced call alerted authorities, rescuing Cepeljac at St Pancras and arresting the suspects three months later using CCTV and phone data.
• In his victim impact statement Cepeljac detailed ongoing flashbacks, insomnia and trust issues as he continues treatment for psychological trauma.