A FAILED ayslum seeker who tried to kidnap a father on the school run has been jailed for 14 months.

Witnesses saw two men attempt to bundle Abdulla Ahmed into the boot of a car.

But he resisted and clung to the vehicle, hoping to prevent his attackers from getting away.

Iranian-born Kamaran Ahmadi, 21, formerly of Princess Street, Blackburn, was jailed at Preston Crown Court after pleading guilty to attempted kidnap and actual bodily harm assault.

Ahmadi arrived at Dover in September 2005. In February 2006 he had exhausted all his rights of appeal to stay in the UK, the court was told.

The offences arose in May 2006. Mr Ahmed was taking his partner's children to school.

Michael Murray, prosecuting, said this was in St James' Road, Blackburn, and Ahmadi and another man got out of a nearby vehicle. Mr Ahmed knew both of them.

The pair apparently shouted threats as they approached him.The defendant took hold of the man as the second person assaulted him.

"Mr Ahmed fell to the ground and was punched and kicked by both defendants who tried to put him into the boot of a car", said Mr Murray.

"Mr Ahmed struggled vigorously to stop them getting him into the boot.

"The defendant got into the car to drive off. Mr Ahmed ended up hanging onto the car, trying to prevent them from escaping from the scene.

"He had initially hoped to stop them by standing in front of the vehicle. He jumped on to the bonnet and grabbed hold of the spoiler."

The victim suffered cuts, bruises and abrasions.

Ahmadi claimed to police there had been a pre-arranged fight and that Mr Ahmed had been the main aggressor.

Mr Bob Sastry, defending, alleged that Mr Ahmed had previously used violence towards his client.

The defendant accepted he was responsible for some of the injuries caused that morning.

The other man involved had been older and more sophisticated, Mr Sastry said.

Judge Christopher Cornwall described the incident as a "disgraceful episode".

He said: "It was a determined attack by two men against one.

"There were people out and about who would have been distressed.

"What you did was so serious that a custodial sentence must follow".

Police are still hunting the second man.