Suspect denies knowing about model’s kidnap

The chief suspect in the alleged kidnap of a British model in Milan has said he did not knowingly take part in any crime.

Lukasz Pawel Herba says his involvementstemsfromwanting to raise money to treat his leukaemia and he was hired by a group of Romanians to rent properties around Europe to store clothes they were selling, according to reports.

He is said to have told investigators he posed as a photographer and met Chloe Ayling. He said he was paid £500,000, found out the Romanians intended to kidnap her and backed out of the plan.

His side of the story has emerged as Ms Ayling’s representatives dismissed doubts about the kidnap.

Italian police said she was snatched last month by a group calling itself Black Death.

She is believed to have been drugged and taken in a bag to an isolated village near Turin, where she was held for six 0 Lukasz Pawel Herba said he ‘backed out of kidnap plan’ days as her captors tried to auction her online. As more details emerged about the episode, including that she went shopping for shoes and groceries with her captor, her lawyer and an agent have spoken out to defend her.

Lawyer Francesco Pesce said it was “evil” to suggest she was involved while Phil Green, of Supermodel Agency, said what took place was “real and very frightening for all concerned”.

Ms Ayling, from south London, has said she had feared for her life “second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour” during her ordeal.