A NORTH-EAST man has been jailed for nine years in the US for attacking his ex-wife and trying to abduct his son.

Douglas Frawley, from Darlington, was sent to prison after a jury in New Mexico found him guilty of accosting his ex-wife while trying to take his son.

The 56-year-old, the son of a US Army GI who was stationed in England during the Second World War, will now be held in a high security prison for the remainder of his son's childhood.

The court, sitting in Albuquerque, heard how Frawley had already snatched his son in 1995.

Deputy District Attorney Lisa Knowles told how Frawley had abducted his son and taken him to Britain in 1995, but his ex-wife, Cindy Sealey, had spent $80,000 on an investigation to track him down.

Once located in England and arrested, Frawley waived extradition and returned to the US, where he was sentenced to probation in 1997.

But within a month, he arrived at his ex-wife's doorstep, despite a court order to stay away.

Ms Knowles also told the jury that in late July 1997, while his ex-wife was walking down the street, Frawley appeared from nowhere and punched her, sprayed mace on her, and then snatched his son, James.

The court was told that Frawley's ex-wife then managed to grab her son back and that the defendant fled on a bicycle.

He tried to snatch his son from his ex-wife again in 2000, but failed.

Ms Sealey told the judge that unless Frawley was locked up he would continue to try abducting their eight-year-old son. She said: "I implore you to deliver our fate out of his hands."

Frawley told the court that he had made a mistake going to visit Ms Sealey, but added that it was because his ex-wife would not let him see his son that he had tried to snatch James.

Frawley also faces further charges of attempted kidnapping and aggravated assault on a police officer, following an incident outside his son's home last year.

He will appear in court in New Mexico on October 28, and could face a lengthier sentence if convicted.