A fleeing kidnapper nabbed by Canterbury's top cop on the Superintendent's day off has today been jailed for three years

Michael Mamea hijacked a car with a man sleeping inside, in September last year in Christchurch.

The victim was told to fill the tank at a petrol station, but sounded an alarm that he'd been kidnapped.

Mamea tried to flee, but was pursued and caught by Canterbury District Commander Superintendent John Price - who was driving his unmarked car to Sumner to walk his dog.

Mamea has been sentenced in the Christchurch District Court to three years and two months in jail, after admitting to four charges of kidnapping and failing to stop for police.