A man who kidnapped a woman he had met on an internet dating site before threatening her with an arsenal of weapons in a bid to get cash for drugs has been jailed for 15 years.

Alex Wallis, 35, attacked the woman, who he had been seeing for five months, after she refused to give him £500 at his home in Silver Street, Burwell, on January 4.

Furious, he assaulted her before holding a crossbow to her neck and threatening her family if she did not withdraw some cash for him.

He then ordered her into a car before driving her to Cambridge, Worcester, Stratford-upon-Avon and Coventry, taking her to banks and threatening her with a knife and BB gun.

He then further assaulted her, including headbutting her, while they were parked in a McDonald’s car park. A witness called police and the car was pulled over as they headed back to Cambridgeshire on the A14.

Wallis was arrested and police discovered a haul of weapons at his home, including the crossbow.

He was charged with false imprisonment, common assault, two counts of causing actual bodily harm and three counts of possessing an offensive weapon.

He initially denied the charges but pleaded guilty on the second day of his trial after refusing to attend Cambridge Crown Court.

He was jailed for a total of 15 years, banned from driving for five years and was given a lifetime restraining order banning him from contacting the victim.

Detective Constable Stephen Phillips said: “Wallis is an extremely dangerous man who was shown to have a personality disorder brought on by his drug abuse.

“This must have been a terrifying ordeal for the victim who has shown great courage to go to court and was prepared to give evidence against him.

“Wallis had a history of violence and other offences and this case also shows how important it is for people to use Clare’s Law when starting a relationship with a new partner – especially if you have met them online and do not know about their past.”