THE wife of a North-East man at the centre of a police search across the US has told of the terrifying moment the FBI caught up with him.

Andrew Jones - along with his estranged American wife Amanda and her 18-month-old son Justice Gallon - had not been seen since last Friday.

Their disappearance coincided with Mr Jones flying back to the US from Britain last week, and Mrs Jones' family feared for her safety.

Their pictures were broadcast on television, and police in Oregon were joined by the FBI to help track down 30-year-old Mr Jones.

Armed federal agents yesterday traced the family to a motel in Seattle, Washington state.

But according to Mrs Jones, 29, the couple were attempting a secret reconciliation and met at the SeaTac Inn to get their 12-month marriage back on track.

Mr Jones, originally from Thornaby, Teesside, left the family home in Rainier, Oregon, seven months ago and returned to England while an investigation into alleged domestic abuse was being carried out.

But he flew into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport last Friday and met up with his estranged family.

Last night, Mrs Jones described the chain of events after the couple met up. She told The Northern Echo: "We met in secret because we didn't want anyone else interfering in our private lives.

"The three of us were in the hotel room and I turned on the TV to see us plastered all over the state news.

"Apparently the FBI were after Andrew and we were missing.

"I called my family back in Oregon to say we were okay. Two hours later there was a knock on the door.

"I opened it and there were five FBI men with guns trained on us.

"They were yelling at us, waking my baby up in the process, then they cuffed Andrew and took him away.

"It was absolutely terrifying. We are two consenting adults and all we did was try to get our marriage back together.

"They were totally heavy-handed."

The manhunt was sparked when police linked their disappearance with Mr Jones' arrival in America last week.

They had last been seen at a babysitter's house in Longview, Washington, 15 miles across the state border from their home on the banks of the Columbia River.

Mrs Jones' family became concerned when she did not call in sick for work this week and she was reported missing by her brother's wife, Annalisa LeBeouff.

Mr and Mrs Jones met over the Internet in March last year, then married two months later in Oregon after a whirlwind romance.

Mrs Jones admits they have had "domestic" troubles, but after being estranged for seven months, had been working towards getting back together. She added: "We had separated because it wasn't working out. I wanted him to go to anger management counselling and I believe that was working.

"During the last two months I was coming round to the idea of taking him back.

"We met in private because it was nothing to do with anyone else."

Mr Jones was arrested on two outstanding warrants relating to domestic violence and being a fugitive from justice. He is now being held on $40,000 bail in Seattle.

Police chiefs are continuing to question Mr Jones, although they say his wife and son were not held against their will and no restraining order had been filed.

The couple had been planning to start a new life in Britain and Mrs Jones still hopes to fly to London next week. It will be several days at least before Mr Jones is released.