A gang were found guilty of robbing and kidnapping a former aide to the Queen Mother.Martin Dias, 29, of Bowstead Court, Battersea and Derwin Ellis, 21, of Westbridge Road, Battersea abducted Niall Hall on February 1 last year.

A third member of the gang Arron Miller, 21, of Eccles Road, Battersea, had previously pleaded guilty to kidnapping and robbery.

Kingston Crown Court heard Niall Hall, 49, a former captain in the Irish Guards and now working as a management consultant, was attacked by three men in Bridge Lane, Battersea, at 10.30pm.

Mr Hall was parking his Land Rover Freelander when he was approached by the men, one of whom was brandishing a knife.

The father-of-three was driven to a lock-up garage in his own car, where gang members tied him up, stripped him and ran knives along his body.

His £1,000 watch and wallet were stolen, and he was forced to give out Pin numbers to his bank cards.

Two attackers left the lock-up at 11.45pm and withdrew cash from his account.

Mr Hall was finally released in Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, at about 1.30am, while the defendants made off in his £18,000 car.

He managed to flag down some help and was taken to Chelsea Hospital.

Wandsworth detectives launched an investigation, spending hours watching CCTV evidence and forensic examination of the scene.

They were able to identify Miller after he used Mr Hall’s phone to make a call after the attack.

Miller and Ellis were arrested on March 3 this year, while Dias was arrested on March 4.

Detective inspector Darren Hassard, senior investigating officer from Wandsworth Robbery Squad said: “Mr Hall was subjected to a terrifying ordeal at the hands of these violent criminals and I am pleased with the result today.

“I hope this verdict will allow him to put this matter behind him and move on from this horrific episode.

“This group used serious violence and intimidation to extract bank details from the victim and I am glad they have been removed from the streets of London, which is a much safer place for their incarceration.”

Dias’s girlfriend, Kizzy Miller, 33, was accused of driving the men to the cashpoints, but was cleared on the orders of the judge due to a legal technicality.

A fifth defendant, Brian Gilbert, 19, was also cleared on the orders of the judge.

Dias, Ellis and Miller will be sentenced on March 16 at