A FATHER today spoke about the moment he thought he might never see his family again after they were driven away by a crazed kidnapper.

The maniac drove away the 11-week-old baby girl and her mother after jumping into the Darwen family's M-registered Vauxhall Astra on Monday afternoon.

He threatened to use a hypodermic needle to infect the baby with AIDS and embarked on an horrific two-mile drive, during which he crashed several times and almost knocked down a woman and two children.

And he ignored the mother's pleas to slow down, sneering: "I don't care, I'm on the road to hell anyway."

The terrifying incident took place at around 4.30pm after the father left his family, who have asked not to be identified, in the car park of the Asda store at Grimshaw Park, Blackburn, while he bought groceries. He said: "I was just coming out of the store when I heard some wheels screeching. I looked up and saw my car leaving the car park.

"I could see somebody else was in the car with them and I just thought 'will I ever see them again'?

"It seemed ages before I was told they were safe. The relief was unbelievable."

The woman was assaulted as she struggled with the kidnapper from the back seat of the two-door car.

It travelled along Grimshaw Park, left into Haslingden Road, left again into Shadsworth Road and right into Rothesay Road, Shadsworth.

She said: "I felt disbelief and horror that someone had got into the car knowing there was a baby in the front.

"I just wanted him out of our lives and couldn't believe what was happening.

"It was 11 weeks to the day since the baby was born and our joy was turning to terror."

"I went absolutely berserk in the car and created havoc as well as pleading for help.

"A man was threatening to kill us and it was the worst experience of my life. "He was driving like a maniac and almost ran down a woman and two children.

"I don't think he would have cared. He said: 'I'm on the road to hell anyway."

Mum and baby were eventually released on Largs Road and the car was abandoned on Sandwich Close.

Concerned Asda bosses have sent the family a bunch of flowers and a cuddly toy.

Police are appealing for witnesses who saw the car being taken from the car park and driven erratically.

The man they are hunting is in his early to mid-20s and around 5ft 8in, with short, dark brown hair and blue eyes.

He spoke with a local accent and was wearing a black bomber jacket made of shiny material.

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