A University of Bolton student snatched an 18-month-old toddler from her mother in a state of psychosis, a court has heard.

Martin Enow snatched the girl from her mother on Mayor Street around six months ago and ran off with the girl upside down.

Bystanders intervened in the incident and the 18-month-old toddler was saved, but not before she was struck by a car in the struggle. Doctors amputated a broken toe and treated a broken arm.

At Bolton Crown Court this week, prosecutor Jon Close revealed the explanation Enow shared for the incident at interview.

Mr Close said: "He remembered running and touching the child. 

"The voices told him to touch the child or else he would be dead."

Enow, 24, a University of Bolton student in the second year of a cybersecurity course, attempted to escape in a car and a taxi, but the driver of the latter locked him in.

The incident was a random attack and the mother and child were not known to Enow. 

He was arrested and, after a month of treatment for his mental health, he was charged with two offences of kidnap and Section 20 assault. He admitted these offences.

In mitigation, Graham Rishton said he was in a state of psychosis at the time.

Enow had a 'difficult' 2022 and two days earlier he received a caution for an incident in which he smashed a sound system and slashed the tyres of his car with a knife.

Addressing Judge Elliot Knopf, Mr Rishton said: "This is the type of incident which leads to a visceral reaction in all of us.

"There is nothing I can say to in any way take away from the suffering of the girl and the mother. It is a parent's nightmare."

Judge Knopf accepted the mitigation made it appropriate to reduce the sentence.

He sentenced Enow, of Moor Lane, Preston, to four years in prison.

Judge Knopf said: "For the child, as she grows up, there will be a continuing and life-long reminder of what happened. Certainly a physical effect, a psychological effect.

"It is clear as to the appalling impact your actions had on the family," he added.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.