Woman jailed for kidnapping nine-week-old baby from his own home
A 41-year-old woman has been jailed for two years after admitting the kidnapping of a nine-week-old baby from his family home.
Kelly Mahon had already admitted a charge of unlawfully abducting the boy from a house in Telford in Shropshire in February before she appeared in court to be sentenced on Friday.
The abduction of the child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, prompted a manhunt and a national appeal but he was found "safe and well" a few hours after the incident on February 24.
Mahon, of John Broad Avenue, Telford, and who appeared in custody at Shrewsbury Crown Court, had spoken to the baby's mother before she abducted him.
At Telford Magistrates' Court in February, Kelly Crowe, prosecuting, outlined the case against Mahon saying it had been "a pre-planned kidnap".
She said: "When officers go around there (to Mahon's home) a number of baby items were present; cots, clothes, baby clothes, both female and male and also a to-do list.
"She made reference to sterilisers, nappies, milk for babies; so the inference is further children being kidnapped or other victims going to be targeted, had this offence not been committed."
Miss Crowe added: "That the nine-week-old baby was taken from the parents' address by the defendant who reported that her husband had been in a road traffic collision and was lying unconscious.
"When she goes to the location she finds her husband is not there and there's no collision.
"This defendant said 'I'll watch your children while you tend to your husband'.
"When she gets back the nine-week-old child is missing."
Speaking after Mahon was jailed by a Shrewsbury Crown Court judge, senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Neil Jamieson of West Mercia Police, said it was thanks to officers' swift action the baby was rescued.
He said: "None of us can even begin to imagine how his parents must have been feeling for those few hours and the agony they must have gone through.
"We are so pleased that today we have seen justice done for them."
Mr Jamieson added: "As a result of a swift response by officers acting on lines of enquiry from the public we were thankfully able to find the baby and get him back in the safe arms of his mum and dad as soon as possible."
In a statement released through the police, the child's family said: "While he was missing, I cannot explain in words how we felt.
"The thought that our practically newborn son was alone, frightened and in a strange place with someone he did not know is indescribable.
"We both felt sick. It was impossible to think straight. We just wanted to be out there looking for him ourselves.
"We cannot put into words how grateful we are to West Mercia Police for bringing our baby back to us.
"We are forever thankful for their hard work.
"We would also like to thank everyone who called the police to share information on who took our baby.
"This was incredibly brave and you helped bring him home safely to us."
The statement added that the youngster was doing well, describing him as "a beautiful, healthy and happy boy".
