THE story on our front page this week was described as a very disturbing case by a spokesman for the children’s charity the NSPCC.

Alexander Benfield was sentenced to a seven year prison sentence this week after earlier being found guilty of the attempted kidnap of a young girl during the summer.

The random nature of a seemingly normal man, aged in his twenties with no previous convictions, deciding to try to snatch a child off the street in broad daylight, is the stuff of a parents worst nightmare.

Benfield will now spend many years in jail and will also have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Both the NSPCC and police were quick to praise the bravery and courage of the young girl involved in the incident for retelling the story to the court, as well as the people of Ashton Keynes who offered so much help to solve the crime.

We join them in wishing the girl and her friends a swift recovery from the ordeal.