A SOLIHULL man has been jailed for 27 months after abducting a baby boy from his home − while police have released footage showing the moment officers rescued the tot.
The baby’s mum, Chantelle Forrester, has also spoken out after the traumatic incident, thanking the police for rescuing her five-month-old boy.
James Dempsey, 35, from Eden Road in Solihull, snatched the boy from an address in Sutton Coldfield on April 3 this year, prompting an urgent police appeal.
The force responded to sightings of Dempsey’s Vauxhall Astra in Olton and Sheldon − and at 9.30pm the following day traffic cops intercepted the car on a roundabout in Bickenhill Lane near Birmingham Airport.
Body-worn cameras capture the scene as officers carefully lift the baby from the front passenger seat, place him on a jacket and check to ensure he’s not hurt – before wrapping him in a police fleece to keep him warm.
Ms Forrester gave consent to release the footage.
She added: “I’ll forever be grateful to the officers who brought my baby home. He was gone for about 36 hours but it felt like a lifetime.”
Dempsey appeared in court on June 13 having admitted child abduction, failing to stop for police, dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking, theft and motoring offences.
He was jailed for 27 months today (June 13).
The court heard how Dempsey − who is known to Ms Forrester − stayed at the Sutton Coldfield address overnight on April 2-3 but disappeared with the baby in the morning.
West Midlands Police’s appeal was shared widely across social media and prompted two 999 calls that proved crucial in helping officers trace his Vauxhall Astra.
It led cops to spot the car near Birmingham Airport and, having collided with the driver’s door in an authorised ‘tactical contact’ manoeuvre, Dempsey was arrested from behind the wheel and the baby rescued.
West Midlands Police chief inspector Ian Ingram said: “Despite the commotion − with blue lights flashing and sirens blaring − the baby stayed remarkably calm throughout the ordeal and only cried when officers started cleaning him up.
“The video shows the human side of policing…caring for a little baby with compassion and tenderness just moments after a dynamic pursuit. It was such a relief we were able to reunite mum and son.”
He added: “It was a fantastic response to what was a very serious, urgent appeal for information. Our appeal was shared thousands of times and reached a huge number of people in the West Midlands and beyond.
“As a direct result of the appeal we received two crucial 999 calls that enabled us to direct police resources to the right area…and led to the child’s safe return.
“It’s a great example of the police and public working effectively together – and achieving a brilliant result. I’d like to thank everyone who shared our appeal and particularly to the alert members of the public who made those crucial 999 calls.”