A Leading businessman has spoken of the kidnap threat ordeal his family has been through.

Richard Bateman, who runs Bateman Financial Management in Liskeard, was speaking after a 52-year-old local man was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for threatening to kidnap his daughter.

Michael Randle, of Barras Cross, pleaded guilty to the threat of kidnapping at Truro Crown Court on Friday.

The court was told Randle was in debt and chose an extreme criminal solution to his situation.

Mr Bateman, who is a member of the prestigious Million Dollar Round Table, an organisation that represents the top financial advisers in the world, received a call on March 3 demanding £250,000. The caller also demanded £35,000 to be delivered later that same evening. Mr Bateman said: 'This threat came like a bolt from the blue and destroyed my family's peace and well-being.

'Irrespective of how organised or disorganised the person making the threat is, the effect on those in receipt of this sort of threat is to fear the worst and to assume the worst.

'Do not underestimate the effect this kidnap threat had, and continues to have, on our family.

'I want to thank the professionalism of the local police in drawing matters to a speedy conclusion.'

The threat was reported to police and a CID investigation led to Randle's arrest.

Detective Sergeant Wright, who headed the investigation, said: 'No physical harm came to members of the Bateman family and the quick arrest, charge and guilty plea of the offender has helped to allay their fears, but this threat had a serious and significant effect on Mr Bateman, his daughter and their family.'

Judge Elwin, summing up the case in court, described blackmail as one of the ugliest crimes in the criminal calendar. He described the telephone call, a recording of which was played in court, as 'somewhat chilling and taken seriously by Richard Bateman'. He acknowledged the pain caused to the Batemans.