Man charged over kidnapping of former mayor's grandson<BR>

A man was due in court today over the kidnapping of 15-year-old Les Mills, the grandson of the former mayor of Auckland.

The 20 year-old unemployed west Auckland man was due in Auckland District Court later today on charges of kidnapping, threatening to kill and aggravated robbery.

It followed an attack when the teenager was driving his Mercedes car in the Auckland suburb of Herne Bay on October 4.

Two other unemployed men, Steven Ackerley, 17, from Glen Eden and Luke Helwes, 21, from Laingholm, were arrested on November 17 and charged with receiving stolen property and theft, police said.

Helwes pleaded guilty in Auckland District Court on Monday and was sentenced to community service.

Ackerley was remanded on bail to reappear in court on December 7.

Police said in a statement today further arrests may follow.

At the time police said Mr Mills probably saved himself from injury or worse by complying with his attackers' demands.

Police said he was at traffic lights not far from his Herne Bay home when two men leapt into his 1994 Mercedes Benz and held a knife to his throat.

He complied with their demands but fled at the earliest opportunity, police said.

- NZPA