Baby kidnapper jailed for six-and-a-half years

A father who kidnapped his own baby girl from Britain to hide her from her mother has been jailed for six-and-a-half years for his "unspeakable cruelty".

Maher Belaid, 34, admitted abducting their three-month-old daughter to Libya while his wife was on a shopping trip - and she has not seen her for more than two years.

The judge had told Belaid to return little Talia, now 27 months, to Britain to be with her mother. But the court heard he has refused to co-operate with the British Embassy.

The judge apologised to the child's sobbing mother for not being able to jail Belaid for longer.

Belaid fled to his home North African country with Talia in November two years ago after his marriage in Britain broke down.

And he has refused to return Talia, now 27 months old, who is being looked after by Belaid's mother in the Libyan capital of Tripoli.

The marriage broke down after the birth of Talia.

But the judge heard there was "no prospect" of her being returned to her mother Malgorzata, 30, in Barry.

Restaurant worker Belaid was arrested after returning to Britain without his daughter.

The court heard that Belaid copied his uncle Mohammed who had stayed in Libya with his young daughter and not allowed her to return to Britain five years ago.

Prosecutor Matthew Cobbe said Belaid whisked his daughter to Heathrow airport for a flight to Libya while his wife was shopping in the centre of Cardiff.

Newport Crown Court heard that Talia's mother would see her for just a few minutes at a time on internet phone service Skype.

The hearing was told that she was tormented by the little girl calling Belaid's mother "mum".

Mr Cobbe said: "The defendant's cruelty has deprived the mother of her child and has deprived his child of the love she could have received from her mother.

"The emotional hardship she has endured is plain to see and is heartbreaking."

Belaid's lawyer Richard Ace said that efforts to bring the toddler back to Britain had "hit a brick wall".

Judge Patrick Harrington QC said he was restricted by sentencing powers otherwise he would have given Belaid a "far far longer" term behind bars for his "unspeakable cruelty".

Belaid - who met his future wife while both worked at a pizza takeaway - was told by the judge: "This is a harrowing case.

"You put into effect a cruel deception and the torment you have inflicted on a very nice girl is simply beyond measure.

"Rarely have I seen a case of such unspeakable cruelty."