Oldbury boy's alleged kidnapper may be unfit for trial (From Halesowen News)

Oldbury boy's alleged kidnapper may be unfit for trial

4:15pm Wednesday 8th February 2012 in News

A FORMER pirate radio DJ accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 10-year-old Oldbury boy is at risk of committing suicide and may not be mentally fit to stand trial, a court heard.

Michael Jackson, who changed his name from Albert English by deed poll, has been further remanded in custody because of concerns about his mental health.

The 49-year-old is accused of kidnapping the boy on Sunday November 13 and falsely imprisoning him in his ground floor Lowrey Court flat in Bristnall Hall Road, Oldbury.

Jackson appeared by video link at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday) from Woodhill Prison, Milton Keynes, to also face charges of threatening to kill the youngster and sexually assaulting him.

The divorced father-of-one, is further charged with abducting an 11-year-old girl with intent to commit a sexual offence in a separate incident on September 14 last year.

He was told not to plead to the charges after John Attwood, defending, told judge John Warner there were major concerns over his fitness to stand trial.

The court heard Jackson is on suicide watch at the prison, that he had a “significant” psychiatric history and before his arrest and remand had been receiving psychiatric care in the community.

Mr Attwood said: "Apparently, he has in the past attempted suicide and spent time in hospital under the Mental Health Act."

He said there were complex mental health issues that needed to be investigated before the case could proceed.

The ex-DJ with the Black Country Powerhouse pirate radio station in 1989, who has grey hair with a side parting and a short grey beard, spoke only to confirm his name and that he understood the importance of the proceedings.

He was remanded him in custody until April 23 for the preparation of psychiatric and psychology reports.

The 10-year-old boy went missing after leaving his home to buy a drink from Carls Convenience store in nearby Pryor Road.

Police were alerted and a search was made by officers and members of the public in the area.

He was freed by police after a two-hour ordeal when a woman spotted him through the window of a flat decked with Christmas decorations in Lowrey Court, apparently tied to a radiator and bound in a sheet.

The incident sparked outrage among local people and heated demonstrations outside the flats forced Adullam Homes housing association, providers of homes for vulnerable people, to rehouse all the tenants.

It also led to the formation of Sandwell United Parents, a group campaigning for better protection for children against paedophiles.

Two other men, aged 30 and 48, arrested in connection with the kidnapping were released without charge.