Man jailed for kidnap of 14 women

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A man who kidnapped and robbed 14 lone women in an area of the West Midlands has been jailed indefinitely.

Terence Maxwell, 39, of West Bromwich, approached the women and used a gun or knife to force them to drive him to cash machines and empty their accounts.

He was only captured when a witness called police and he tried to escape by getting into a car with three plain-clothed officers inside.

He was "a threat to all females", said the detective who helped convict him.

Det Ch Insp Danny Long, from West Midlands Police, said Maxwell terrorised 14 women across West Bromwich, Walsall and Birmingham.

Obviously these women were terrorised Det Ch Insp Danny Long

"He waited for lone females to approach cash machines or cars nearby.

"He would abduct them by knife or gun point and force them to empty their accounts."

The women were told by Maxwell to drive to a number of cash machines until no more money could be withdrawn.

"Obviously these women were terrorised. The man was clearly a threat to all females in this part of the city," said Det Ch Insp Long.

'Bad career move'

Maxwell, who pleaded guilty to 14 counts of kidnap and robbery and one count of sexual assault in November, was at large for months before his capture on 4 August 2006.

Det Ch Insp Long said a witness called police while one of his robberies was taking place at a cash machine.

When Maxwell heard police were approaching he ran off.

"He dived into a parked car nearby that had three men in it and said he was running from the police and would they help him," said Det Ch Insp Long.

"They were three plain-clothed police officers and he was arrested. You could call it a bad career move."

Maxwell was sentenced under public protection laws which mean he will spend at least six years in jail. He will only be released when he is deemed no longer a threat to women.