AN international businessman arrested on suspicion of kidnapping an elderly man with dementia says the bizarre case has left his life on hold for 17 months.

Simon Hayes, 51, of Taunton, who is waiting to see if he is going to be charged with anything, denies any wrongdoing.

He was originally arrested after a confused American - later identified as Roger Curry - was left in Hereford after flying to this country with his wife Mary-Jo and son Kevin.

Mr Hayes says he drove Mr Curry from Gatwick to Hereford in April 2016 as a favour to Kevin, who wanted his father to be cared for in a British hospital following difficulties getting treatment in the USA.

"I don't know what was in Kevin's mind bringing his parents here," said Mr Hayes.

"He said his father was in a bad way and begged me to take him to hospital.

"I took Roger to Hereford because it would be easier for Kevin to pick him up later on rather than driving around London.

"When we got to Hereford, an ambulance pulled up and I stayed in the ambulance as they checked Roger for about 40 minutes, when they asked me to leave.

"I then drove off back to Gatwick."

Mr Hayes, who has business interests in the USA, where he first met Kevin Curry in 2005, has reported to police a number of times and is currently bailed until next month, when he hopes to be told the case has been dropped.

He added: "When the police originally told me I could be charged, I said, 'I think you're being totally ridiculous'.

"This has left my life on hold for 17 months. It's caused me and my girlfriend in the States a lot of stress.

"I'm totally innocent, although I didn't exactly tell the whole truth to the police - I might have left things out in interview to protect Kevin.

"I missed Le Mans last year because the police had confiscated my passport. That lost my company $10,000 and I'll be taking action to try to recoup that.

"The bail conditions have affected my professional business. The police have had long enough to get this resolved."

A West Mercia Police spokesman confirmed that a 51-year-old man from Taunton arrested on suspicion of kidnap in April 2016 has been re-bailed until October 24.

He added: "Everything has been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service and we are waiting to hear if there will be a charge or not."