Man admits kidnapping nurse

A man admitted today that he abducted a nurse and left her tied up in the boot of a car for 10 days without food or water.

Nurse Magdeline Makola, 38, from Livingston, West Lothian, vanished after leaving work at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on 15 December.

Concern was raised when she failed to turn up to work three days later, and she was found by police locked in the boot of a Vauxhall Astra on Boxing Day in Airdrie, Lanarkshire.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Justice Ngema, 35, pleaded guilty to abducting Makola, tying her up and placing her in the boot of the car, the Press Association reported.

"This is a crime that shocked people in West Lothian and across the country," said Morag McLaughlin, Area Procurator Fiscal for Lothian and Borders.

"Justice Ngema abducted Magdeline Makola, tied her up and left her in the boot of her car. Ten days later, police officers found her still locked in the boot, bound and gagged, with no food or water and fading hopes of survival."

Police were expected to give further details later today.