Psychiatric care for child abductor

A north Wales man who dragged an 11-year-old girl from her home was ordered to be held indefinitely at a mental hospital on Thursday.

Charles Kenneth Nicholls was detained without limit of time under the Mental Health Act by a judge at Mold Crown Court.

The effects of that incident has been quite frankly devastating

Mr Recorder Dafydd Hughes, judge

Nicholls had been found guilty of abduction and affray after he grabbed the girl after breaking down the door of her house in Rhosnesni near Wrexham.

The 41-year-old from Mold, who had denied the charges, was stopped by the girl's mother who heard her screams and prevented him from taking her away.

The judge, Mr Recorder Dafydd Hughes, said that his aim was to protect the public.

"Whatever may have been the reason for your behaviour that day, what you did was to subject that young girl and all her family to a most terrifying and frightening day," he said.

"The effects of that incident has been quite frankly devastating.

"You singled out this family, drove your car to the drive of the house.

"You broke through the front door of the house and through the inner door and then grabbed hold of an innocent 11-year-old girl - a complete stranger.

"Fortunately her mother intervened in the nick of time," he said.

Mental illness

At the time of the incident last April, Nicholls, who is unemployed, was detained by two men, including former Manchester United and Wrexham goalkeeper Dave Gaskell, until police arrived.

During the trial, it was suggested by the prosecution that the Nicholls tried to kidnap the youngster because she looked similar to a barmaid he had become obsessed with.

At the hearing on Thursday, Nicholls, who was accompanied by two nurses from the Ty Llewelyn psychiatric unit, showed no emotion as the sentence was passed.

The judge said he as satisfied that psychiatric evidence showed Nicholls was suffering from a mental illness which made it necessary for him to be detained in hospital for treatment.