Chloe Ayling’s ‘kidnapper’ Lukasz Herba ‘lied about having cancer and claimed he had a glamour model girlfriend’ while working as DHL delivery man
THE FORMER boss of accused Black Death kidnapper Lukasz Herba has told how he was a "pathological liar" - and even claimed to have cancer so he could skip work.
Herba, who denies knowingly taking part in the kidnapping of Chloe Ayling, worked for three months this year at a Wrexham-based recruitment company, The Sun Online can reveal today.
The 30-year-old's former boss has told how when he first joined 24/7 Recruitment in December last year, he seemed like a model employee. He was then sent by the company to work as a DHL delivery worker in Birmingham.
However things soon began to unravel, and he left the company in February this year.
His former manager, who asked not to be named, told The Sun Online: "In the interview he came across very well and very articulate - a really nice guy.
"Once he got the job, he would start to disappear - first for a few hours, then for a few days.
"When we confronted him, he said he had leukaemia and that he was in London and his doctor would be driving back to Birmingham. That's when all the lies started to come out.
"I could see him becoming very erratic.
"We told him we were going to extend his probation period because of his disappearing acts.
"Next thing I know he's telling us he's quitting because he has to go to Switzerland for treatment.
"That was the last I heard of him.
"He was a pathological liar."
Beauty and the beast? The 'kidnapping' that shocked Europe
Model Chloe Ayling has claimed that Lukasz Herba snatched her in Italy this July and held her hostage for six days after being lured to what she thought was a photoshoot.
Ms Ayling made a statement to Italian police soon after she was freed, telling how she lost consciousness at the "shoot" in Milan when she was injected in her right arm.
She claimed that as she was injected, someone put a hand over her mouth to stop her screaming.
Recalling how her ordeal started, Chloe said: "When I entered the studio on July 11 I had my iPhone, wallet and wheelie suitcase.
"The door from the adjoining room was closed. Before I could go in someone with black gloves put their hand on my mouth.
"A second person in a balaclava and dark clothes gave me an injection.
"I woke up in a car's boot. My wrists and ankles were handcuffed, and there was adhesive tape on my mouth.
"I was inside a bag and was only able to breathe through a small hole."
Herba is currently on trial in Italy, with court proceedings taking place in Milan.
His brother Michal, 36, is facing extradition. The pair, of Tividale, West Mids, deny kidnap.
But despite his unreliable antics and string of lies, the boss couldn't believe it when the Polish immigrant had been accused of being involved in a high-profile kidnapping - and even being involved in the shadowy Black Death group.
"I'm in shock," he said.
"Things are starting to add up now but I never would have realised the full extent of it all.
"Imagine having employed a person who went on to kidnap someone with their brother.
"I think he was living a double life when he worked for me.
"If you ever challenged him on anything he would get very defensive, but never aggressive."
Herba even told colleagues that he had a glamorous girlfriend.
Terror on the dark web: Who are the Black Death group?
The so-called Black Death group is an organisation which claims to be responsible for a network of kidnapping and people trafficking.
Although rumours of its existence have circulated for several years, the kidnapping of Chloe Ayling in Milan is believed to be the only crime authorities have publicly linked it to.
The name is notorious on sections of the internet due to the scale and depravity of its offending, though it’s not clear if its photos touting women for sale are authentic, nor if it is as proficient as it claims to be.
It’s claimed that users of the “dark web” pay huge fees to buy women who have been kidnapped from across Europe.
A 2015 article by Vice’s Motherboard stated their reporter had found images of women chained up with the victim being offered for sale £115,000.
His former boss added: "He wouldn't give us her name.
"He only told us that she was a glamour model."
It is claimed that Herba also told colleagues that his girlfriend was pregnant with their baby, but then later revealed that she had lost it after taking cocaine.
Since being arrested by police, Herba has said he was hired by a group of Romanians to rent properties around Europe to store garments they were selling.
He is also said to have told investigators he posed as a photographer and met Ms Ayling.
Herba said he was paid £500,000, found out the Romanians intended to kidnap her, and backed out of the plan.
24/7 Recruitment and DHL declined to comment.
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