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'Personal relationship': Shock details in Stuart MacGill kidnapping

One of the men arrested over alleged abduction and assault of former Australian cricketer Stuart MacGill was the brother of his partner, Maria O'Meagher. Pictures: Instagram/NSW Police
One of the men arrested over alleged abduction and assault of former Australian cricketer Stuart MacGill was the brother of his partner, Maria O'Meagher. Pictures: Instagram/NSW Police

New details have emerged about the alleged kidnapping of former Australian cricketer Stuart MacGill, with the brother of the 50-year-old's partner one of four men arrested over the plot.

One of the men who allegedly kidnapped the former cricketer from a street corner in the north shore suburb of Cremorne at roughly 8pm on April 14 is believed to have been known to MacGill.

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MacGill was allegedly confronted by Marino Sotiropoulos, who according to The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald is the brother of MacGill's partner Maria O’Meagher, before a further two men arrived and forced him into a car.

Police said he was then allegedly driven more than 60 kilometres to Bringelly in Sydney's south-west, where he was threatened with a gun and assaulted.

The men then allegedly drove him to Belmore, roughly 40 kilometres away from the Bringelly property, where he was released.

There is no suggestion MacGill's partner had any involvement in the alleged abduction.

The former Test cricketer did not report the alleged attack until a week afterwards, which NSW Police's Detective Acting Superintendent Anthony Holton attributed to MacGill's justifiable fear after the alleged attack.

“It is only an hour that he was held, but it would have been a horribly frightful hour to endure through and subsequent to that, the ongoing trauma,” he said.

Detective Holton added that MacGill was 'quite scared about going to police at all' after the alleged abduction.

Asked by a reporter if MacGill had been 'betrayed by someone he knows', Detective Holton said the alleged attack is believed to have been perpetrated by someone he had a 'personal relationship' with.

Four men - aged 27, 29, 42 and 46 - were arrested in dawn raids on Wednesday.

The men have been taken to police stations where charges are expected to be laid.

Police officers are in the process of executing search warrants at homes at Sutherland, Caringbah, Brighton Le-Sands, Banksia and Marrickville.

Stuart MacGill among Australia's unluckiest cricketers

MacGill played 44 Tests for Australia between 1998 and 2008, taking 208 wickets.

Only Shane Warne (708), Richie Benaud (248) and Clarrie Grimmett (216) have more Test wickets among Australian leg-spinners.

MacGill played the majority of his career while Warne was in his prime, meaning he probably would have played many more Tests in any other era.

Stuart MacGill was one of Australia's most prolific spin bowler's throughout his career. (Photo by Fairfax Media via Getty Images via Getty Images)
Stuart MacGill was one of Australia's most prolific spin bowler's throughout his career. (Photo by Fairfax Media via Getty Images via Getty Images) (Fairfax Media via Getty Images)

MacGill also played in three one-day internationals for his country.

He took 328 wickets for NSW in the Sheffield Shield, putting him equal-third on the state's all-time list alongside Trent Copeland.

Only Geoff Lawson (367) and Greg Matthews (363) have taken more wickets for NSW in first-class cricket.

After retiring in 2008 he made a comeback at age 40 to play for the Sydney Sixers in the inaugural Big Bash League season in 2011.

with AAP

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