A THIEF, who smashed his way into a car on a petrol station forecourt and drove off, kidnapping the occupant’s 16-year-old son in the process, was jailed today.

Following an earlier guilty plea, Ben Parker who lives in Milton Road, Chesham, was sent to prison for three and a half years with the judge at Aylesbury Crown Court condemning him for subjecting the young passenger and his mother to a "terrifying ordeal".

While the owner of the car was paying for fuel at Nashleigh Hill Garage in Nashleigh Hill, Chesham, the 22-year-old used a small emergency hammer to smash his way into the vehicle after the "distressed" passenger refused to open the doors.

The court heard that Parker, of Milton Road, was almost double the drink driving limit and had no insurance or full driving licence.

During the incident, which only ended when he crashed the Vauxhall into another car following a police chase, he threatened the teenager telling him if he "stayed put he wouldn’t hurt him".

At the time of the collision the passenger had persuaded Parker to let him go and managed to flag down a passing car who returned him to his worried mother.

In passing sentence, Judge Kristina Montgomery said: "What you did was subject [the car owner and 16-year-old passenger] to an absolutely terrifying ordeal.

"Even after you let the young man go, the ordeal continued with other road users as you tried to evade the police, which concluded with a collision."

She added that he had put road users in a great degree of danger.

Police had managed to track the car using the owner’s iPhone which was left inside the vehicle.

As well as being sentenced for kidnap and aggravated vehicle taking, his driving offences were also taken into account.

Judge Montgomery added had the 22-year-old protested his innocence and been later found guilty he would be looking at a prison term of about five years.

While speaking of his clients actions, defence barrister Gareth James said Parker was very regretful and has had a drink problem.

He added: "He accepts fully he has caused great distress."

However, the prosecution reminded the court how he had once before been found guilty of aggravated vehicle taking, and scared the passenger, who reportedly said he "drove like a maniac".