Dad-to-be jailed for ‘kidnap’ prank that cost police £30,000

A FATHER-to-be persuaded his pals to “kidnap” him so his pregnant girlfriend would pay a ransom and they could get drunk with the cash.

But Leigh Ford’s dozy plan fell apart when his girlfriend panicked and called police.

They then mounted a £30,000 hunt involving armed officers, a helicopter and hostage negotiators.

But officers were stunned when they saw CCTV footage of Ford and two friends leaving an off-licence laden with drink they bought with £80 his girlfriend scraped together for his “release” before dialling 999.

Removal man Ford, 45, collapsed in the dock as magistrates jailed him for 16 weeks and he will now miss the birth of his child.

Blackpool magistrates heard Ford told his girlfriend he was going to get Sunday tea, before having his drinking buddies bundle him into the back of a van with a bag over his head.

His “captors” then rang his terrified girlfriend, who heard Ford’s bloodcurdling screams in the background, threatening to sever a leg, pour boiling sugar and water “napalm” over his body and “cut his nuts off”.

A stunned Ford was arrested when he finally turned up, limping down his street, but stuck to his ridiculous story until he was shown the video evidence, the court heard.

Ford, of Blackpool, who admitted wasting police time on January 28, was told by presiding magistrate Ian Robertson: “The police were not the only victims of your stupidity. So was your partner, who now faces having a baby whilst you are in prison.”

Stephen Duffy, representing Ford, said: “The whole kidnap story had been made up to get his hands on a small amount of money. He had no idea what the police reaction was going to be. This is a bizarre case – a prank which went totally wrong.”