A YOUNG dad said to have kidnapped and terrorised his ex-partner's boyfriend, claiming he would be called the "next Yorkshire Ripper" has been cleared.

Joseph Taylor had first given victim Demis Morrison a "beating" and was alleged to bundled him into a car after holding him against the back of the vehicle and ordering him to get in.

He was then said to have taken him to a phone box and made him phone Taylor's ex-girlfriend to tell her it was over between them, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Taylor, 31, was found not guilty of kidnapping by the jury, on the direction of Judge David Pirie, part-way through a trial.

The prosecution told the court Mr Morrison was perhaps unclear on certain aspects of the allegation and there was no supporting evidence. It would not be safe to ask the jury to convict Taylor and the Crown would offer no further evidence.

The defendant, of Cotton Tree Lane, Colne, had earlier admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and was bailed until August 24 for a pre-sentence report. The court had heard claims Taylor bundled Mr Morrison into his car after attacking him, said he was going to put him in a hole, throw sandbags on him and he would be called the next Yorkshire Ripper.

Mr Morrison had told the jury Taylor took him to his house and told him to go upstairs to clean himself up. They then had some coffee and the defendant took him to a phone box and told him to could phone Taylor's ex to tell him their relationship was over.

The complainant had alleged: " He was standing one inch behind me, prodding me and telling me what to say." He said "after a beating" he was scared.

Mr Morrison claimed Taylor had then locked him in his car while he went to a nearby off-licence for lager and chocolate.

Asked by Taylor's counsel, Roger Baldwin, why he didn't run off, Mr Morrison said he was terrified.