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Oldbury man Michael Jackson jailed for child kidnaps | Oldbury man Michael Jackson jailed for child kidnaps |
(35 minutes later) | |
A West Midlands man has been jailed indefinitely for public protection after admitting kidnapping a boy and a girl, aged 10 and 11. | A West Midlands man has been jailed indefinitely for public protection after admitting kidnapping a boy and a girl, aged 10 and 11. |
Michael Jackson, who abducted, tied up and sexually assaulted the boy, was arrested last November after the child was found at his flat in Oldbury. | Michael Jackson, who abducted, tied up and sexually assaulted the boy, was arrested last November after the child was found at his flat in Oldbury. |
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard Jackson, 50, abducted the girl in the West Midlands in September 2011. | Wolverhampton Crown Court heard Jackson, 50, abducted the girl in the West Midlands in September 2011. |
Judge Martin Walsh said the case was "every parent's nightmare". | Judge Martin Walsh said the case was "every parent's nightmare". |
He ordered Jackson to serve at least seven years before being eligible to apply for parole. | He ordered Jackson to serve at least seven years before being eligible to apply for parole. |
Jackson, from Bristnall Hall Road, pleaded guilty in May to abducting the girl. He admitted charges including sexual assault, false imprisonment and kidnap relating to the boy's disappearance. | Jackson, from Bristnall Hall Road, pleaded guilty in May to abducting the girl. He admitted charges including sexual assault, false imprisonment and kidnap relating to the boy's disappearance. |
Hands bound | |
West Midlands Police said the boy failed to return home after walking to a shop. His mother then called police and a search started. | |
The force said neighbours also helped with the hunt and less than two hours later police broke into the flat and found the boy. | |
His hands had been bound but he managed to escape from a cupboard and move towards a window in the flat, where he was spotted by a woman looking for him. | |
Jackson repeatedly threatened to kill the boy, who was abducted in an alleyway, and held him prisoner in the cupboard during a three-hour ordeal. | |
He gagged and trussed up the victim with duct tape and a rope, placed a craft knife near him, and warned him his father would be murdered, the court heard. | He gagged and trussed up the victim with duct tape and a rope, placed a craft knife near him, and warned him his father would be murdered, the court heard. |
'Pliers and hammer' | |
The judge said: "I am satisfied that had [the 10-year-old boy] not escaped, he would have been subjected to further serious sexual abuse or worse. | |
"He was, fortuitously, able to escape from the cupboard. When he entered the bedroom, he saw a knife, pliers and a hammer - articles he believed would be used to kill him. | "He was, fortuitously, able to escape from the cupboard. When he entered the bedroom, he saw a knife, pliers and a hammer - articles he believed would be used to kill him. |
"It is simply impossible to imagine the sheer terror experienced by that young child as a result of your actions." | "It is simply impossible to imagine the sheer terror experienced by that young child as a result of your actions." |
Debi Gould, prosecuting, said the boy was found after Jackson left the flat in an attempt to construct an alibi. | |
Miss Gould told the court: "The defendant said [to the boy], 'Don't bother screaming or you are dead - it's time to die if you make a noise'." | |
She said Jackson put a pillowcase over the boy's head and also told him he would never see his mother again. | |
The two children were now struggling to sleep and socialise, the court heard. | The two children were now struggling to sleep and socialise, the court heard. |
Det Ch Insp Gary Booth said the case had left the victims and their families "traumatised" and they were "still recovering a year on". | Det Ch Insp Gary Booth said the case had left the victims and their families "traumatised" and they were "still recovering a year on". |
'Totally shocking' | |
He said: "This time last year we had two normal children. | He said: "This time last year we had two normal children. |
"They are now introverted and they don't like going out alone." | "They are now introverted and they don't like going out alone." |
He said the case had been "totally shocking" and "horrific" and described Jackson as a "serial predator who preys on young children". | He said the case had been "totally shocking" and "horrific" and described Jackson as a "serial predator who preys on young children". |
Jackson, who was originally called Albert English, was convicted of two indecent assaults in the early 1980s and jailed for 30 months. | Jackson, who was originally called Albert English, was convicted of two indecent assaults in the early 1980s and jailed for 30 months. |
His defence lawyer John Attwood said Jackson, who was unemployed and claiming disability benefits, had been receiving treatment under the Mental Health Act. | |
Judge Walsh stressed that it was likely to be "very many years, if ever" before he was judged safe to be freed from prison. | Judge Walsh stressed that it was likely to be "very many years, if ever" before he was judged safe to be freed from prison. |
The abduction of the boy sparked mass street protests in Oldbury, and hundreds of people held demonstrations in the local area, calling for action to protect children from paedophiles. | |
A community group, called Sandwell United Parents, was set up afterwards and police chiefs praised the group's work to improve communications between residents and officers. |