AN estranged father who tried to snatch two boys as they walked through a shopping precinct with their mothers has escaped jail.

John McGee, 39, tried to grab the three-year-olds in St James Shopping Mall, Hebburn, South Tyneside, last September.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how, with similarity to the James Bulger murder, McGee was shown on security camera footage trying to make off with the youngsters.

The court was told how one of the boy's mothers ran up and took her child back, but McGee tried again with another child, claiming it was his son.

Yesterday McGee, who had taken a cocktail of drink and medication, received a 12-month rehabilitation order after medical evidence, accepted by the prosecution, led to lesser charges.

Prosecutor Roger Moore said: "This case started life as an attempted child abduction. It was either going to be something extremely serious, harking back to the James Bulger case, or something which was not at all serious, but simply the ravings of a man delirious on drugs."

McGee, of Mountbatten Avenue, Hebburn, handed himself into police after recognising a description of himself on a local news bulletin.

He pleaded guilty to two charges of common assault.

Andrew Walker, defending, said McGee had three children of his own.

Mr Walker said: "He pieced together his movements and remembered the names he was calling the children he was trying to take were the names of his own children.

"He is acutely aware of the distress caused to the children and parents."