Accused carjacker is to appear in court

A man was appearing in court today charged with two counts of kidnap and other offences after a young mother's car was stolen with two toddlers in the back in the West Midlands.

Cedric Brown is accused of dragging a woman from her car then speeding away with her two young children still strapped in the back seats.

It is alleged that the 44-year-old, of no fixed address, carjacked the young mother's Ford Focus in Somerset Road, Erdington, at around 11am yesterday in an attempt to escape pursuing police officers.

He was arrested a short time later and, after being questioned by detectives, was last night charged with robbery, two counts of kidnap, and possession of a knife, a police spokesman said.

He has been remanded in police custody ahead of an appearance at Birmingham Magistrates' Court today.

The two children - a one-year-old boy and his sister, aged two - were unhurt and later reunited with their mother by police officers.

Two other men arrested nearby - a 19-year-old from Perry Common and an 18-year-old from Bromford - have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Sgt Nicholas Barnes expressed relief at the time that the children were unscathed.

"Thankfully, neither of them was hurt and we quickly reunited them with their mum who naturally was extremely relieved.

"Officers responded to calls of the burglary within minutes... the suspects simply didn't have enough time to get away from the location before they were swamped by police."

Resident Trevor Jones, aged 86, said he saw police officers carrying the children from the back of the car.

DCI Adrian Atherley added: "This was a very traumatic and shocking incident for the mother and the children. She has been left very distressed and anxious. She is just relieved that the children were returned to her safe and well."