A JEALOUS man who kidnapped his ex-partner off the street and subjected her to a late-night terror ordeal has been jailed for four years.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Zaid Ahmed, 40, had attacked Kimberley Catlow with a steering lock, made repeated and chilling threats to kill her, and claimed he had killed a former girlfriend.

He ended up barricading the pair of them into his flat and Miss Catlow only escaped after a ‘three-and-half-hour nightmare’ when police arrived.

Ahmed was to claim to police he and Miss Catlow were married under Islamic law.

Ahmed, of Lord Street, Oswaldtwistle, admitted kidnap, assault causing actual bodily harm, and making threats to kill, in May.

He was also given a five-year restraining order to keep him away from the victim, and must not enter Altham Street, or Travis Street, Burnley.

The hearing was told by the time of the offences, the victim was in a new relationship.

The defendant could not cope with that and, at 11.30pm, drove up to her as she walked along the street, grabbed her, punched her, and forced her into his car.

Worried onlookers tried to intervene, but the defendant threatened to hit them with a steering lock and they backed off.

They called the police.

Once in the car, Miss Catlow 22, was repeatedly hit, and was struck twice with the lock. He told the victim he had not decided yet if he was going to kill her, or let her escape, and kill her later.

Ahmed stopped near a school, threatened the victim and she was so scared, she followed him towards his flat, fearing if she didn’t, he would run after her, catch her and kill her.

At 3am, officers knocked on the door and then broke in.

Ahmed had barricaded himself and the victim inside the property. The victim had suffered multiple injuries.

The prosecutor said since the incident, Miss Catlow had had trouble sleeping, lost weight and was concerned about any repercussions.

Zoe Nield, prosecuting, said: “She has never been married to the defendant, either under Islamic, or British, law and doesn’t consider she has ever been his wife.”

Simon Gurney, for Ahmed, said: “Aside from this incident, he has contributed to society.

"He has always been in employment.”

Sentencing, Judge Andrew Woolman said the defendant recognised he had anger and stress-management problems.