AN ALLEGATION of kidnap was dropped by prosecutors after the case was reviewed.

Mitchell Chelton, 28, was charged with the offence after bystanders watched him put his partner into a car in Banbury town centre on April 23.

Prosecutor Charles Ward-Jackson told Oxford Crown Court that Chelton had set off in his vehicle trying to find her after she had been on a night out in the town.

“She was rather the worse for drink,” the barrister said. “He forced her into his car and a number of passersby took the view he was trying to kidnap her.

“The Crown has taken the view the full offence of kidnap cannot be made out.”

It was no longer believed there was a realistic prospect of securing a conviction on the kidnap offence so the prosecution was being discontinued, Mr Ward-Jackson said.

The judge was told that that presented him with a difficulty. Chelton pleaded guilty at the magistrates’ court to damaging his then partner’s phone on the same date as the alleged kidnap although questions were raised about whether that could be lawfully sentenced by the crown court judge.

Judge Michael Gledhill QC took the view that the case should be sent back to the magistrates’ court to be sentenced there. The defendant, who has no previous convictions, had already paid for repairs to the device.

Chelton, of Lane End, near High Wycombe, was granted unconditional bail to return to Oxford Magistrates’ Court on June 13.  

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

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