KIDNAPPER Steven Howe - who faces life imprisonment - now needs help to overcome the trauma of his sister's suicide, a member of his family has said.

A jury at Worcester Crown Court this week convicted building worker Howe of abducting a married couple and planning to burn them to death in Herefordshire's Golden Valley.

His accomplice, Robert Simpson, beat the husband and raped the wife after Howe, of Crossways in Peterchurch, accused the man of stealing cannabis worth £6,000 from him.

A relative of Howe claimed the 33-year-old had been released from Gloucester prison only a fortnight before he was arrested for the Peterchurch attack and claimed Howe had spent the previous eight Christmases behind bars.

"Steve deserves to go to jail for what he's done, but he needs help," said the family spokesman, who asked not to be identified.

"Steve was really upset when his sister, Joanne, committed suicide 10 years ago.

"He has never been the same person since."

The man said Howe had suffered fits of rage since the tragedy and had spent a week in Hereford's Stone Bow psychiatric unit three years ago in a bid to curb his violence, but this had failed to alter his behaviour.

"It doesn't take much to get him going, especially when he mixes with people like Rob Simpson," said the relative.

"People have made Steve out to be a villain, but he has real problems and he won't get them dealt with in prison.

"All that happens when you arrive in the prison is the doctor sees you and asks if you need anything, such as methadone."

Howe - whose first experience of custody was when he was sent to a young offenders' institution at the age of 16, according to the family spokesman - would be able to "take care of himself" in prison.

Howe, who has been remanded in custody, is to be sentenced on Wednesday, January 10, at Worcester Crown Court. Psychiatric reports are being prepared.