A KIDNAP victim was praised by a judge yesterday for the way she bravely handled a terrifying ordeal at the hands of an attacker high on drink and drugs.

Michael Davies was desperate for money to pay off debts when he hijacked Victoria Parker’s car at knifepoint as she set off for home after a shopping trip.

He repeatedly threatened to stab the 42-year-old and demanded cash as he ordered Miss Parker to drive to a secluded spot on the outskirts of Middlesbrough.

Davies, 28, was last night starting seven years behind bars, and will be on an extended licence for two years when he is finally released to help protect the public.

Judge Peter Bowers described the case as “every woman’s nightmare” and told Davies he had to be considered a dangerous criminal capable of serious harm. He said: “I don’t know whether you thought for a minute how it could have affected this poor woman.”

Teesside Crown Court heard how Miss Parker had been trained to deal with challenging behaviour and problem teenagers as part of her job as a teaching assistant.

Throughout her ordeal, Miss Parker tried to reason with her captor, telling him at one point: “You’ve done a bad thing, but you can make the right choice now.”

When she finally stopped in a quiet spot on the Brambles Farm estate, Miss Parker handed over money and the keys to her car when Davies demanded them.

She called police after being allowed to walk away from the scene, and Davies was caught nearby after trying to sell the Volkswagen Polo door-to-door.

It later emerged that a day earlier, he had been arrested after pawning a £1,485 gold bracelet he had stolen from a jewellery store for £700.

Judge Bowers heard that Davies had handed over the money to meet his drug debt, but was £300 short and carried out the kidnap in desperation.

Davies, of Letitia Street, Middlesbrough, admitted kidnap, robbery and having an offensive weapon on July 7, and the theft of the bracelet on July 5.

Judge Bowers said: “Miss Parker has shown an amazing degree of courage and fortitude.”