Chloe Ayling has denied she was in on the kidnapping. Photo / Facebook
Chloe Ayling has denied she was in on the kidnapping. Photo / Facebook
Glamour model Chloe Ayling planned her own kidnap and even helped to write a ransom note, her alleged abductor dramatically told an Italian court today.
Lucas Herba said that he and Ayling plotted the scheme when they met at a photo studio in Milan last July.
Herba, 30, said that mother-of-one Chloe, 20, agreed as it would make her famous and it would earn a lot of money, the Daily Mail reports.
30-year-old Lukasz Herba, from Poland, sits during a trial on the alleged kidnapping of British model Chloe Ayling last summer, in a Milan courtroom, Italy. Photo / AP
Prosecutor Paolo Storari asked him about an email ransom note sent to her agent Phil Green in which he described himself as a "medium-high level killer with Black Death".
Softly spoken Herba sensationally told the packed courtroom: "That was written with the girl."
His claim that the model was a willing participant came as he was questioned by the model's lawyer Francesco Pesce.
The model has alleged she was kidnapped by sex traffickers. Photo / Facebook
The Polish national, who has lived in Britain for the past eight years, denied injecting her with the drug Ketamine to knock her out and maintained that she was always a willing participant in the plan.
"She knew when we met in Milan that the kidnap was not true," he said.
"When Chloe and I met in the studio I have told her the plan.
"We have remained talking for two, almost two hours. I have told her about the plan."
Under cross examination by his own lawyer Herba told the court that Ayling was a "beautiful woman" – but denied having a sexual relationship with her.
The two were pictured holding hands the day before she was released.
Herba told the court that he and Ayling agreed to split any money they made from the kidnap.
He also said the model told him they could have a sexual relationship when the plot was over and the money had been shared.
Cross-examined by his lawyer Katia Kowlakowska, he told the court they had tried to contact the media about the kidnap.
When they realised there was no interest, he said it was agreed to take her to the British Embassy in Milan where she was set free and alerted the authorities.
Police were already looking for Ayling after her London agent had raised the alarm when he failed to hear from her after her arrival in Milan.
Video evidence of British model Chloe Ayling is played in court during a trial on the alleged kidnapping of the model last summer, in a Milan courtroom, Italy. Photo / AP
Herba described how when they were at the remote farmhouse in the tiny hamlet of Borgial, Ayling would go for a walk because there was nothing else to do.
He said they made regular trips to the town of Viu to buy supplies. Ayling would sit in the car while he went shopping.
"We often went out together. On the first day we went to buy all the necessary items, including a toothbrush for her. Chloe always remained in the car.
"Apart from this, she went for a walk in Borgial because there was nothing to do at home."
Herba said a ransom note sent to her agent in London demanding £230,000 ($437,282) contained the names of three people that had been supplied by Ayling and could pay the money.
