A MOTHER OF TWO was subjected to almost two hours of terror after a midnight intruder burst into her Oswaldtwistle home, held her captive and tormented her.

Joanne Trickett, whose children slept unaware in their beds, feared for her life, sobbed after her hands and feet were bound, and thought the man was going to torch the house.

But, Miss Trickett, a part-time tele-ads employee at the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, Blackburn, was an "innocent victim," of disgruntled and desperate father of two, former newsagent Andrew Roberts, Burnley Crown Court heard.

The woman he had been looking for was Tina Roncoli, the social worker he blamed for taking his son away and who, he claims, along with her colleagues at Bury Social Services, set out to destroy his family and subjected the little boy to "appalling cruelty."

Charles Brown, prosecuting, said Miss Trickett had bought her home on Stanhill Lane from Miss Roncoli in January.

Roberts, who had endured "three years of hell," was, said his counsel, "driven to the very edge of reason," and acting in desperation when he arrived at the property where he believed Miss Roncoli lived - but which she had sold to Miss Trickett.

He later told police he had wanted to burn down Miss Roncoli's home in front of her very eyes, because, he said, her actions had taken away everything he valued. Instead, the court was told, he left Miss Trickett needing counselling and her young son, who almost stumbled upon the events, traumatised.

Roberts, who was allowed by Judge Raymond Bennett to read a statement, apologised to Miss Trickett for the horror she had suffered and said what he did was unforgivable.

The defendant, who said his child was almost immediately returned to his family after they moved to Bolton, said his son had been found to suffer a form of autism and was not a victim of child abuse.

Roberts, who claimed Miss Roncoli twice threatened his children with adoption, alleged his son's life had been destroyed by the people who were supposed to protect him. He said he had been "pushed over the edge," and went on :"If I had had my say back in 1999, none of this would ever have happened."

He was remanded in custody until January 11, by the judge, who ordered a psychiatric report to see if he posed a risk to Miss Roncoli and her colleagues at Bury Social Services.

Roberts, 39, of Oaks Avenue, Bradshaw, had admitted false imprisonment, having articles with intent to damage property and possessing an offensive weapon.