A MAN who tried to lure children into his car near a York school is today behind bars awaiting sentence.

Martin Kidd twice stopped his Ford Escort and asked boys walking on the pavement to get into the passenger seat. On each occasion, there was a school just up the road or round the corner. But on each occasion, Kidd failed to persuade the boys to go with him.

Kidd had already been cautioned for an offence which may be linked to the incidents in York last October. The Recorder of York, Judge Stephen Ashurst, asked the police to give details of that offence to the judge who will sentence Kidd.

On his first appearance before York Crown Court, Kidd, 21, of Rose Tree Grove, New Earswick, pleaded guilty to the attempted abduction of a boy on October 17 and attempted abduction of a different boy on October 18 on a different road.

He denied a charge of attempting to abduct a third boy between October 9 and October 15 on the second road.

The exact locations of the kidnap bids and the names of the schools cannot be given for legal reasons.

The boys were aged 11 and 12.

Kidd showed no emotion as he entered his pleas, which were accepted by the prosecution.

The judge told him: “The pleas will give considerable relief to the families of the boys concerned.”

Until he admitted the charges, the boys Kidd tried to kidnap could have been asked to relive their ordeal in front of a jury.

Sentencing has been adjourned while probation officers prepare a report on Kidd.

Kidd’s barrister Paul Williams said the prosecution did not have evidence as to Kidd’s motivation for the offences.

The judge said: “The court will form its own opinion.”

He said the sentencing judge would take into account what Kidd will tell the probation service about his reasons for the failed kidnappings.

Kidd was remanded in custody and has been behind bars since he was arrested shortly after the offences.

When he is sentenced on February 13, the prosecution will ask for the offence he denies to be left on file, which means that it will appear on his police record but is not a conviction.