Man admits boy kidnap and sex abuse

A man has admitted kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 10-year-old boy and the separate abduction of a young girl.

The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, entered guilty pleas to a total of five charges when he appeared by video-link at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

The 49-year-old pleaded guilty to kidnapping, falsely imprisoning and sexually assaulting the 10-year-old boy, who was abducted while making his way to a shop in the Oldbury area of the West Midlands last November.

Entering his pleas from HMP Woodhill in Buckinghamshire, he also admitted a further count of kidnap with intent to commit a sexual offence in relation to the boy's disappearance.

The man also pleaded guilty to abducting a 10-year-old girl in the West Midlands last September.

Following today's 40-minute hearing, the defendant was further remanded in custody for sentencing on a date to be fixed.

In a statement issued after the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Gary Booth, of West Midlands Police, said: "The offender was arrested and subsequently charged following a large-scale painstaking police investigation into the kidnap of a young lad.

"The boy should only have been gone from home for a matter of minutes but his short journey to the local shop turned into something far more sinister as the defendant abducted him and took him away from safety to a nearby location.

"Thankfully the alarm was raised swiftly and the quick actions of police and the local community meant we were able to return the child to his family without him having suffered significant injury."

Mr Booth added that the incident had a massive impact on the children involved and the wider community.

"We are pleased that these young victims and their families were spared the ordeal of a prolonged court process and he has admitted his actions," he said.

"We hope all those affected can take comfort from knowing that a dangerous offender is now off the streets."

PA