Joshua Barry, Reon Gardiner and Aaron Davies standing trial over alleged abduction of Micaela Jennings

A woman who was allegedly abducted and stuffed in a car boot as part of a revenge plan was lured from a Gawler train on the promise of drugs and sex, a court has heard.

A woman who was unknowingly lured to her eventual abduction agreed to meet with one of her alleged captors on the promise of drugs, a court heard.

Joshua Barry, 34, Reon Gardiner, 42, and Aaron Davies, 31, have pleaded not guilty to their alleged involvement in the terrifying hostage ordeal.

Opening the men’s trial in the Adelaide District Court, Rob Walker, for the prosecution, told the court Micaela Jennings, 29, had spent an evening with Mr Barry in November 2019, prior to the alleged offending.

“She waited until Mr Barry fell asleep before taking his keys and stealing his car,” he said.

Mr Barry reported his car stolen to the police but asked them not to take any action against the alleged victim.

“That was not because he thought nothing of his car being stolen … but instead took matters into his own hands,” Mr Walker said.

Mr Walker read out a series of alleged text messages between Scott Harrison, 36, and Mr Barry in the days before the alleged offending.

Mr Harrison: “Any luck on that gutter rat?”

Mr Barry: “Not yet”.

Mr Harrison: “Won’t be long, her days are numbered”.

Mr Harrison then texted Mr Barry on December 6, 2019.

“This little gutter rat is hard to find, just keep missing her,” he wrote.

“I’ve got a mate going to jump on the Gawler train soon, I think she will be heading North.

“Will put mutt in the boot and bring her to you”.

The next day Mr Harrison messaged Mr Barry saying: “the mutt took the bait, we’ll see if today is the day”.

Reon Gardiner. Photo: Facebook

The court heard Michael Geoffrey Stewart, 37, wrote to Mr Barry on the same day saying: “this is your chance to get that sl**, better not f*** it up, bro”.

Ms Jennings took the train with Mr Davies on December 7, 2019, unknowingly shadowed by Mr Harrison.

When they got off the train at Exeter, a car driven by Mathew Pirri, 40, pulled up next to her.

Mr Harrison sprayed Ms Jennings with pepper spray and repeatedly hit her, before shoving her in the car.

Mr Walker said they delivered Ms Jennings to Mr Barry who placed her in the boot of his car bound up in duct tape and brought her to Mr Stewart’s house.

“Mr Stewart punched Ms Jennings so hard that he fractured her skull,” he said.

Mr Walker said Mr Barry then messaged Mr Gardiner saying “I have the Queen, need to clean her up”, before driving to his Victor Harbor house and forcing her to stay the night.

The next day Mr Barry drove her to her boyfriend’s storage shed at Port Adelaide, threatened her with a shotgun and told her to steal his belongings.

Mr Walker said Mr Barry then “ultimately lost his nerve” and dropped her off at her mother’s house.

Mr Davies, of no fixed address has pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and causing harm, while Mr Gardiner, of Hindmarsh Island, has pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment. Mr Barry, of Newport, has pleaded not guilty to causing harm.

In his closing address, Mr Walker told the court Ms Jennings had told the truth in her evidence as best she could remember, “warts and all”.

Mr Walker told the court Mr Davies had convinced Ms Jennings to meet with him on the day by sending her a message saying: “Let’s meet up, take drugs and have sex”.

“It doesn’t mean that was going to happen, it means that that is what was going to lure Ms Jennings to her abduction,” he said.

“At that point you might think an offer of drugs is a pretty enticing one to an addict in Ms Jennings’ situation.”

The trial before a jury continues.