A MAN has appeared in court charged with attempting to kidnap a mother and her one-year-old son in a supermarket car park.

Neil Diaz is accused of holding a knife to the woman’s stomach and ordering her to get into the passenger seat of her car outside Asda in Turner Rise, Colchester, on Wednesday afternoon.

She had just put her young son in the car when the threat was allegedly made.

Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard Diaz allegedly sought out a woman at random to target in a bid to make them feel sorry for him.

The court was told he was feeling suicidal at the time of the incident.

Outlining the case, Andrew Young, prosecuting, said the complainant had been chosen at random.

He said: “The woman had finished shopping and was putting her son in the car when the defendant approached her holding a knife.

“He said: ‘Excuse me, get into the passenger seat of your car now’ and held the knife to her stomach.

“She screamed and the defendant made off.

“He told police he had thoughts about approaching a random woman because of his recent failed dating history.

“He wanted to scare them and eventually make them feel sorry for him.

“It seems afterwards he panicked.”

Diaz was arrested later that day in Marks Tey and is said to have dumped the blade in a bin.

During a short hearing at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Friday, Diaz - who wore glasses and a grey sweatshirt - spoke only to confirm his personal details including his name, address and date of birth.

The bench were told the two counts of attempted kidnap the 57-year-old is accused of must be heard at crown court as they are indictable only.

Diaz, of Roosevelt Way, Colchester, is also charged with possession of a bladed article in public.

No pleas were entered and will be taken together at the next hearing.

Katie Armstrong-Mason, defending Diaz, submitted an application for bail for Diaz saying the incident was a cry for help suggesting bail conditions of living and sleeping at his home address and not going to Asda.

But magistrates rejected it, remanding Diaz in custody.

He will next appear at Ipswich Crown Court on October 11 for a plea and trial preparation hearing.