The shocking story of a model who was kidnapped, drugged and put up for sale on the dark web is being turned into a new drama series.
Chloe Ayling was lured to Milan, Italy, under the pretence of a modelling job back in 2017 - but upon arriving at the address she had been given, she was abducted and drugged by two men, kicking off a horrifying ordeal that lasted for days.
Glamour model Ayling, who was just 20 at the time, was held at ransom at a farmhouse in Turin by kidnappers Lukasz Herba and his brother Michal Herba.
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The two men, who claimed to be from a terror organisation called The Black Death Group, told Ayling they would sell her as a sex slave on the dark web if they were not paid €300,000 (£265,000).
The brothers held her captive in a farmhouse in Turin for six days - but Ayling managed to convince her kidnappers to let her go after explaining that she had a young son.
The two men were arrested and following a trial, Lukasz was sentenced to 16 years and nine months in prison, while his brother, Michał, was given 16 years and eight months in prison.
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Both men have since had their sentences reduced following an appeal - with Lukasz handed a sentence of 12 years and one month and Michał being given five years and eight months.
Speaking to reporters following the ordeal, Ayling said: “I feared for my life, second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour."
Now the harrowing story is being turned into drama called Kidnapped, set to air on the BBC later this year.
Georgia Lester, who worked on Killing Eve, will cover her time in captivity, and the subsequent court case.
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Lester said: “Every moment that I have spent researching this series and spending time with Chloe, learning about the ordeal she suffered both by the men who abducted her and the people who doubted her, has been shocking and infuriating.
“It’s been an honour to work with Chloe and I can’t wait for audiences to finally see her courage, her charm and her unwavering resilience.”
The six-part BBC Three series will be directed by Without Sin’s Al Mackay, and produced by Viewpoint’s Clare Shepherd.
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Nadia Parkes, from Netflix series The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself, will star as Ayling.
Speaking about the series, Ayling said: "I am excited that BBC Studios are telling my story and that the wider world will get to know the truth about what happened to me and learn of the many details that weren't brought to light originally."
Topics: UK News, TV and Film, BBC
Claire Reid