A CHEATED Kidderminster husband kidnapped his wife's young lover and made him kneel and plead for mercy in a pub car park, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Harold Maiden became obsessed by his wife's brief affair with a workmate and lay in wait for him as he left work at a Kidderminster carpet factory, said Miss Samantha Crabbe, prosecuting.

Maiden got into Simon Gamble's car and forced him to drive towards Stourbridge before they stopped at the pub before going into the countryside.

In a field, Maiden punched Mr Gamble around the head, knocking him to the ground, and then kicked him several times. Maiden's brother, who had followed in a car, pulled the men apart.

Maiden, 35, of Beauchamp Avenue, Kidderminster, who pleaded guilty to kidnap and assault causing actual bodily harm, was jailed for 15 months.

Miss Crabbe said that Mrs Maiden and Mr Gamble became friends at work and on one occasion the relationship became sexual. The pair texted each other and one of the messages was intercepted by Maiden.

He wrongly came to the conclusion that the affair was ongoing and he became obsessed to discover what had taken place. He found where Mr Gamble lived and set out to frighten him.

On March 21, he accosted Mr Gamble after work and made him captive in his car. At the pub car park, Maiden rang his wife and said he was going to kick Mr Gamble's head in.

The assault took place in a field, leaving Mr Gamble cut and bruised. Maiden told police later that he had acted "in a blind rage".

Tim Sapwell, defending, said Maiden's marriage had been going through a difficult stage. His stepson had been committing crime and his father died. He was in a depressed state and became obsessed about his wife's affair and reacted in a primitive way.

Judge Michael Mott said it was a nasty, premeditated offence. Maiden had "cased" Mr Maiden's place of work for a long time before carrying out the kidnap, which must have been a terrifying experience.