A PARANOID schizophrenic held a Benfleet woman prisoner in his car for six hours during a “bizarre” journey around London.

But heavy cannabis user Jordan Codrington was spared jail because the woman, who smashed a window in an attempt to escape, later told police he “had not been himself”.

Codrington, 26, was invited to an address in Roseberry Court, Benfleet, on December 12, 2014.

At about 2am he got into an argument and went to sit in his car, where he was joined by the householder Daniella Alden and another man.

Prosecutor Adam Budworth told Basildon Crown Court yesterday that shortly afterwards Codrington started swearing and said: “I’m taking you to London”.

He said: “She refers to trying to get out and breaking the window at one stage. They drove around for six hours and she doesn’t know where she is and she is frightened.”

The other man managed to get out during the journey, but police officers later spotted Codrington, of Liberty Bridge Road, Newham, London, driving erratically up Drury Lane, near Covent Garden, with Miss Alden trying to get out of the passenger door.

He then reversed back up the one-way street, hitting several parked cars, before making his way back to Benfleet.

Once home, Miss Alden realised she did not have her door key and asked Codrington to drive her to her uncle’s house for a spare and back again, which he did.

Codrington was arrested the next day and charged with false imprisonment, careless driving and possession of a small amount of cannabis.

He admitted all of the charges on June 22 last year.

Yvette Kresner, mitigating, said Codrington had no previous convictions and had acted completely out of character.

She said: “He was aware that the complainant didn’t wish to travel to London. But at no stage did he threaten violence or cause injury.

“The complainant was aware at the time that the defendant was mentally ill.

“There was a period of time when she got in to the back of the car and fell asleep for a couple of hours.”

Judge Jonathan Black said it was a “truly bizarre” but “serious” case.

He said: “If he continues to use cannabis there are no guarantees that there won’t be a repeat of this behaviour.”

Mr Black handed him a ten month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered him to pay a £100 victim surcharge.