Abducted British model was to be 'sold for sex in Middle East'

Chloe Ayling who was in Italy for a photoshoot, was allegedly taken captive for six days by a group calling itself "Black Death" before later being released.

The young model was attacked by two men, drugged and abducted to be sold in an online auction, Italian police said, with reports suggesting a sum of £230,000.

She was told she would be "sold to somebody in the Middle East for sex", her lawyer Francesco Peschi said.

Ayling arrived home on Sunday where she expressed her gratitude to authorities for securing her safe release.

At one point, the model went shopping with her captor after being threatened with death, she claimed.

"She was told that people were there watching her and were ready to kill her if she tried anything," Peschi said.

"So she thought that the best idea was to go along with it and be nice to her captor, because he told her he wanted to release her somehow and some time."

Authorities arrested Polish national Lukasz Herba on kidnapping charges.

The UK's National Crime Agency said it had been working with the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) and the Italian authorities.

A spokesman said: "A house in the Oldbury area linked to Lukasz Pawel Herba was searched on 18 July by EMSOU officers with assistance from West Midlands Police.

"Computer equipment seized is being forensically examined."