Pregnant woman taken hostage in Elizabeth East, Adelaide, house for 13-hours where she was bashed and held for ransom

A pregnant woman was held hostage for 13 hours in a suburban home, where five tormentors beat her, stole belongings and demanded ransom from the victim’s mother.

The Adelaide District Court heard about the terrifying ordeal on Monday during a sentencing hearing for two of the perpetrators, Sharon Anne Clancy, 55, and Nicole Marie Bailie, 29.

The group was led by Daniel Peter Baker, 34, and Vanessa Renae Brewster, 36, who were jailed along with accomplice Rex Lyall Clough, 34.

At a hearing in February, the court heard how the 28-week pregnant victim went to Baker’s home in the northern Adelaide suburb of Elizabeth East on December 30, 2020.

Baker demanded money from the victim and had sent her photos taken outside her father’s house, with instructions that she hand over her own car or they would take the parents’ car.

This led to a horrific 13-hour ordeal during which Baker and Brewster assaulted the woman, stole her jewelry and phone and forced her to sign over ownership of her car.

After Clough arrived at the house, the victim’s mother was contacted with a ransom demand of $1000 if she ever wanted to see her daughter alive.

During Monday’s hearing, a victim impact statement was read to the court by prosecutor Amy Fisher.

“How any other human being could think that it is okay to treat an innocent person the way you treated me is extremely difficult for me to understand,” the statement said. Adelaide Advertiser.

“For the past 23 months, and I expect months to come, I have fought back tears, had sleepless nights, and lived in fear that one day you will come after me again.”

Clancy’s lawyer Stacey Carter told the court her client hit the victim with a flare and helped the others remove items from the woman’s car.

She said Clancy was a heavy methamphetamine user who solicited drugs to participate in the kidnapping.

The court also heard that Clancy’s daughter tragically died last year after a battle with cancer.

Vanessa Brewster was previously convicted for her role as leader in taking the woman hostage

Rex Clough has been jailed for blackmail after taking part in demanding a ransom from the victim’s mother

“Ms Clancy accepts that her behavior was appalling and she is genuinely remorseful for it,” Ms Carter said.

Bailie’s lawyer William Mickan said his client had lived a life of trauma and had turned to drugs as a way to cope.

He told the court that Bailie was in rehabilitation and had the potential to return to her previous career as a carpenter.

Both women pleaded guilty to robbery and will be sentenced in November.