Man aged 49 in court charged with kidnapping boy heading to local shop

Michael Jackson, 49, from Oldbury, West Midlands, did not speak during the brief hearing at Warley Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Dressed in khaki green trousers and a grey sweatshirt, Jackson only nodded to confirm his name, date of birth and address. He was charged last night with one count each of kidnap, false imprisonment, threats to kill and sexual assault.

West Midlands Police launched an investigation after the boy, who cannot be named, was reported missing by a worried family member at 9.15am on Sunday when he failed to return home.

Officers and the public searched the area for more than two hours before the boy was found at around 11.30am. Police said that a 48-year-old man arrested in connection with the investigation had been released on police bail pending further inquiries. A 30-year-old man was released without charge.

Jackson, of Bristnall Hall Road, Oldbury, is also charged with one count of child abduction, in connection with a separate alleged incident involving an 11 year-old girl in September.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court on February 8 next year.