LANARKSHIRE, UK (ANS) -- The vicar of nurse Magdaline Makola -- who spent ten days tied up and locked in the boot (trunk) of a car -- tells London's Premier Radio she has forgiven her attacker.

Thirty-five-year-old Justice Ngema has been sentenced to at least eight years in prison after he used Ms Makola's bank cards to fund a Christmas shopping spree while she lay shivering in sub-zero temperatures last December, according to the radio station's website.

Makola was eventually found dehydrated and suffering from hypothermia in Lanarkshire on Boxing Day (December 26) last year. Revd Jim McNaughton from Livingston Baptist Church said Magdaline has been a pillar of strength throughout the ordeal.

He told Premier Radio: "Magdaline herself has always been one that was quick to say that she forgives. It's one thing to say it and another to live it, but I believe she has been given the strength through her faith to respect that forgiveness that she needs to give as a Christian.

"Her desire is not for one of justice in that sense but one of love for that person as well."

When the sentence was handed down to Ngema at the high court in Glasgow judge, Lord Menzies, told him he may never be released from prison.

Lord Menzies told Ngema he had put Ms Makola through a "truly dreadful physical and mental ordeal on a young woman who had done you no harm at all."

Reverend McNaughton said he hopes Ngema will be able to get the help he needs:

He said: "My reaction to that is one of gratefulness that justice has prevailed but equally of great concern for the person himself. I think it’s important that he gets the help that is required so that he in turn can be a fulfilled person."

** Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent of ANS, is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London (United Kingdom) newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station. Michael has traveled to Albania and the former Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany and the former Czechoslovakia, Israel, and Canada. He has reported for ANS from Jordan, China, Russia, Jamaica, Mexico, and Nicaragua. Michael's volunteer involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- Michael Ireland Media Missionary (MIMM) -- of A.C.T. International of P.O.Box 1649, Brentwood, TN 37024-1649,at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International where you can donate online to support his stated mission of 'Truth Through Christian Journalism.'