Paris- A French man and his two sons have been found 10 years after he had abducted the children from their mother, French media reported on Tuesday.

Xavier Fortin, 52, made off with sons Shahi'yena and Okwari, then aged 8 and 6, on December 29, 1998, during a regularly scheduled visit, as prescribed by a court. Their mother had been given custody of the children.

Fortin headed into the woods, finding a home with the two boys in a barn located in a rural village in southwestern France.

There the three lived under assumed names, until they were recognized from wanted posters by a villager, who alerted police. In January 2005, Fortin had been convicted in absentia for sequestration of minors and sentenced to two years in prison.

Fortin, who holds a degree in natural sciences, home-schooled his sons, who helped their father raise goats and sheep. Fortin was arrested and jailed, and is to be re-tried, the daily Le Parisien reported.

As for the two teenagers, they returned to live in the barn, at least temporarily, after what was described as an "intense" reunion with their mother. (dpa)