A WOULD-BE kidnapper dragged a 12-year-old boy off his bike towards a car only to be foiled by another 13-year-old child, a court has heard.
Daniel Duke, 21, of Mendip Place, Melbourne, is standing trial in Chelmsford Crown Court accused of attempted kidnap.
Prosecutor Andrew Jackson said this week: "It was a very frightening attempt to kidnap, off the street, in the dark, in an alleyway, a young boy, and these boys you can imagine were terrified."
Mr Jackson said that shortly after 6pm on Monday, December 9, the two children were cycling out of an alleyway near to Morrisons supermarket in Dickens Place when Duke jumped out of a car.
"He pulled him off his bike, you will hear frightening the life out of him, and started to drag him by his arms towards the car where the other man was," said Mr Jackson.
"With what you may think is commendable behaviour and presence of mind, his 13-year-old friend got off his bike and grabbed the victim's legs pulling him away from the defendant.
"There was a short tussle which lasted not long at all, seconds.
"With the kidnap not going quite to plan the defendant released him and got back in the car and drove off."
Duke denies the charge and of ever being involved in the alleged incident.
The trial continues