A man has been sentenced to two years in prison for attempting to kidnap a two-year-old boy in Amesbury. Reece Jolliffe, 28, of Coltsfoot Close, pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced at Salisbury Crown Court on October 18, 2024.

The incident occurred in the early hours of September 2, 2023. Jolliffe, who had reportedly been drinking heavily, entered the victim’s home through an unlocked door at approximately 4 am. The child’s mother awoke to find Jolliffe standing at the end of her bed, holding her son in his arms. When disturbed, Jolliffe dropped the child and fled the house.

Wiltshire Police quickly responded, arresting Jolliffe at his home on suspicion of attempted kidnap. During his interview, Jolliffe claimed he could not recall his actions after leaving the pub where he had been drinking.

In addition to the two-year prison sentence, Jolliffe was issued a 10-year restraining order, prohibiting him from contacting the victim’s family or visiting their home address. He was also ordered to pay a £187 surcharge to fund victim services.

Sergeant Matthew Goldring of Wiltshire Police commented, “This was a deeply disturbing incident for the entire family. We do not know Jolliffe’s full intentions when he entered the victim’s home, but his actions were significantly alarming. I would like to personally thank the victim’s mother for her bravery in reporting this to Wiltshire Police and trusting that we would bring Jolliffe to justice.”

The police urge residents to remain vigilant and secure their homes, particularly at night, to prevent such incidents from occurring.