Arrest over house-hunt 'kidnap'

The alleged kidnap victim was selling her home

A man has been arrested in connection with the kidnapping of a family at gunpoint by a bogus house-hunter.

He was detained after a police operation at a pub in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

The arrest follows an incident in which Marilyn Rowell, her two children and a family friend were allegedly abducted by a man who had made an appointment to view her £250,000 house in Leeds.

Police say the arrested man is being questioned by detectives.

Detached home

A spokesman said: "Police have this evening carried out an operation at a pub in the Bradford area as a result of which they have now arrested a 58-year-old man in connection with the robbery in Horsforth on Wednesday.

"He has been taken to Weetwood police station for questioning.

"No further details are anticipated until tomorrow morning."

The alleged incident happened after businesswoman Ms Rowell gave a prospective house-buyer a tour of her detached home in Horsforth, Leeds.

She is said to have been persuaded to drive him to pick up his wife after his second visit to her £250,000 house in Horsforth, Leeds.

Security risks

But as the pair drove off - with Mrs Rowell's two children and a family friend also in the car - he is said to have pulled out a gun.

Ms Rowell described how she was then forced to drive to her crystal wholesale business in Horsforth and fetch £60 from petty cash before going to a bed and breakfast in Headingley to collect the man's suitcase.

Estate agents Whitegates, which arranged the viewing of Ms Rowell's home, has said it will look at possible improvements to its procedures following the incident.

Hugh Dunsmore-Hardy, chief executive of the National Association of Estate Agents, said such incidents were rare.

"Agents are aware of security risks, not just to staff but to clients as well," he said.

"Our members will offer to have an agent present at all viewings."