by Keith Hunt

A drunk who abducted two young children playing innocently in a park has been jailed for nine months.

Timothy Wakeman claimed he was taking the three-year-old girls to show them a Teddy bear.

But a judge told the 47-year-old father: "One thing should be made loud and clear from this - that no child should ever be taken out of the control of its parent or carer without permission, save, perhaps, if it was necessary to do so to save the life of that child or some serious injury."

Wakeman, of Warwick Towers, Warwick Park, Tunbridge Wells, had denied two charges of abducting a child but was convicted by a jury.

Maidstone Crown Court heard he had been drinking when he walked off holding the girls' hands in Grove Park, Tunbridge Wells, on August 5 last year.

The alarmed mothers saw what was happening and ran after Wakeman to rescue the toddlers.

He said later he had asked the children if they wanted to see a Teddy bear in the window of a house in Sutherland Road.

One of the mothers described in a statement the torment she had suffered since the incident.

Adaku Oragwu, prosecuting, said the mum stated there was an effect on her family she did not think would disappear.

She said she felt guilty she did not do more to prevent it happening and now found it difficult to go to her local park.

The mother added she had learnt that Wakeman had played down his actions and referred to comments he made next to reporting of the case on the Kent Messenger's website Kentonline.

A print-out of the comments was passed to Judge Andrew Patience QC.

Michael Boardman, defending, said Wakeman fully appreciated the shock the mothers must have felt seeing him walk away with the children.

The judge said: "He still doesn't think he has done anything wrong, does he? He fought this case knowing he took the children away without their parents' permission."

Judge Patience said Wakeman had been convicted on overwhelming evidence and it was clear he always knew he had taken the children out of the control of their mothers.

He added: "These offences are of the utmost seriousness and cross the custody threshold. Any other sentence than immediate imprisonment would send out entirely the wrong message and signal to the public at large on this incredibly sensitive subject."

Judge Patience added that had there been more serious consequences, the sentence would have been measured in years.