A MAN who kidnapped his two young children from their mother has been jailed.

Albert Buckley junior, 25, plotted to snatch the pair with their mother’s new partner, Tom Johnson, 19.

She had fled from the family with her children and had been living in a refuge in Norfolk.

Johnson arranged to meet her in Littleport at about midnight on March 25, promising her they would move to a new home for a fresh start.

Johnson arrived, but he was with Buckley jnr, Buckley’s sister, Linda, and cousin Mark Lee. They snatched the children and made off in a Vauxhall Astra.

The mother called police and a search was launched. Officers located the Astra on the M11 heading towards Essex. The children, aged four and two, were found in the footwell of the car and their pushchair was later recovered in Littleport, having been dumped en route.

The mother’s handbag was discovered in the boot of the vehicle.

While the four were being questioned on suspicion of kidnap, five members of Buckley’s family threatened relatives of the mother with an axe in Essex in a bid to get her to drop the charges.

Albert Buckley jnr, Johnson, Linda Buckley and Lee all admitted kidnap.

Buckley jnr and Johnson were each jailed for nine months at Chelmsford Crown Court on Wednesday.

Buckley’s parents Albert Buckley senior, 60, and Anne Loveridge, 54, admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice at an earlier hearing. David Buckley, 34, admitted a public order offence and was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment.

Shane Buckley, 24, admitted affray and was sentenced to an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, ordered to carry out 200 hours’ unpaid work and pay �500 court costs. Sylvia Buckley, 36, admitted a public order offence and was sentenced to a two-year community order, 100 hours’ unpaid work, a 12-month supervision order and �500 costs.

All nine, who live in Chelsmford, were also made subject of a five-year restraining order banning them from contacting the mother or any relatives.

Judge Charles Gratwicke described Buckley Jnr as ‘selfish’ for putting himself before his children and subjecting them to such a traumatic incident.

Detective Constable Paul Atkinson, who led the investigation, said: “This was a complex case with two young children at the heart of it.

“While I don’t believe Buckley jnr wanted to cause the children any harm, the way he went about getting his children back was illegal and we’re pleased he has now been brought to justice.”