A MOTHER-of-two who joined in the kidnap of a man after getting involved with two dangerous criminals has walked free from court.

Catherine McGeough, 32, had driven the two men to where victim Aziz Akram was in Blackburn.

The men were angry with the victim as they thought he had stolen cannabis plants which belonged to them.

They subjected him to violence before he managed to escape after nearly an hour and a half, Burnley Crown Court heard.

McGeough had had the power to prevent Mr Akbar being taken against his will as she knew where the plants were.

But the court heard that she knew if she had told the men, the person who had them, a relation of hers, would almost certainly have been attacked.

The defendant, whose elder daughter sobbed continually in court as her mother faced jail, had earlier admitted kidnap, last December 9.

McGeough, of Monmouth Road, Blackburn, was given 12 months in jail, suspended for two years, with 240 hours unpaid work and two years supervision.

Sentencing McGeough, Judge Simon Newell, who had earlier locked the two men up for four-and-four-and-a-half years for kidnap, said her role had been substantially less.

The judge said Mr Akram had suffered an assault on his liberty and his body.

The two men had committed a number of very serious offences.

He said :"They are dangerous young men."

The court had been told Mr Akbar was gripped around the throat and a knife held to his face after being taken from his home.

Tim Storrie, for McGeough, said she had found herself powerless to men who used her for their own ends.

He added :"She was making it up as she went along and was in blind terror at the prospect of the men themselves."