Violent robber jailed for kidnapping 14 women

A violent robber who kidnapped 14 women during a reign of terror lasting several months was jailed indefinitely today under new public protection laws.

During spring and summer 2006, Terence Maxwell, of West Bromwich, approached the women near their cars and forced them at gun or knifepoint to drive to ATMs and withdraw money.

He was caught in August when one of his victims mouthed the word "help" to someone in an ATM queue, who raised the alarm.

Maxwell fled on foot and jumped into a parked car containing three plain-clothes police officers, who arrested him.

In November, he pleaded guilty to 14 counts of kidnap and robbery and one unrelated sexual assault charge.

The detective who helped to put Maxwell behind bars said the 39-year-old was a "clear threat to women", and praised the courage of the victims who came forward.

Detective Chief Inspector Danny Long, of West Midlands Police, said: "Terence Maxwell terrorised women across Walsall and Birmingham.

"We'd like to thank the women for their co-operation with police - their strength has been amazing.

"We are pleased with today's sentence, which means Maxwell will not be eligible for parole until 2013."

DCI Long said Maxwell was oblivious to the terror his victims suffered, and said officers feared his attacks would turn sexual if he had not been caught.

He said: "Maxwell is a violent and acquisitive character. His motives were primarily financial, but we were getting worried that his conversations with his victims were becoming more and more sexual.

"We felt the pressure was on to catch him before it escalated into sexual assault."

At its height, 50 officers worked on the investigation.

Maxwell was sentenced under new public protection laws, which means that he will only be released when he is no longer deemed to be a threat to women.