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Teenage girls admit kidnapping toddler Teenage girls admit kidnapping toddler from Primark store
(35 minutes later)
Two girls aged 13 and 14 have pleaded guilty to kidnapping a two-year-old child from a shop in Newcastle and stealing baby paraphernalia. Two girls aged 13 and 14 have pleaded guilty to kidnapping a two-year-old from a shop in Newcastle, and stealing baby paraphernalia.
The girls, who cannot be named, appeared side-by-side at North Tyneside youth court on Tuesday. They have no previous convictions and have never even been arrested before. The girls, who cannot be named, appeared side by side at North Tyneside youth court on Tuesday. They have no previous convictions and have never even been arrested before.
Quietly spoken, they each admitted that they had “unlawfully and by force or fraud” taken the toddler from Primark in Newcastle city centre on 13 April this year. Quietly spoken, they each admitted that they had “unlawfully and by force or fraud” taken the toddler from Primark in Newcastle city centre on 13 April this year. The girls also pleaded guilty to shoplifting dummies, baby bottles and milk from other stores.
The girls also pleaded guilty to shoplifting dummies, baby bottles and milk from other stores.
They had been due to face further charges under the Sexual Offences Act, but these charges have been discontinued, the court heard. Detectives initially believed the girls had abducted the baby with the intent of sexually abusing her.They had been due to face further charges under the Sexual Offences Act, but these charges have been discontinued, the court heard. Detectives initially believed the girls had abducted the baby with the intent of sexually abusing her.
The girls were refused bail by district judge Roger Elsey, who remanded them into local authority care. Psychiatric and probation reports will now be carried out to assess the danger posed by girls as well as their mental health before sentencing on 4 July.The girls were refused bail by district judge Roger Elsey, who remanded them into local authority care. Psychiatric and probation reports will now be carried out to assess the danger posed by girls as well as their mental health before sentencing on 4 July.
Describing the case as very complex and very serious, Elsey said the girls may face a custodial sentence but that it was not inevitable. Describing the case as very complex and very serious, Elsey said the girls may face a custodial sentence but that it was not inevitable. “The custody threshold is crossed but that does not necessarily mean a custodial sentence will be imposed,” he said.
“The custody threshold is crossed but that does not necessarily mean a custodial sentence will be imposed,” he said.
The judge also said sentencing would have to take into account “very concerning” material found on a tablet computer used by one or both girls.The judge also said sentencing would have to take into account “very concerning” material found on a tablet computer used by one or both girls.
The abduction in April sparked a huge search across Newcastle. Once the alarm was raised, officers trawled through CCTV from the council, shops, Newcastle University, bus companies, the Metro and their own cameras. The abduction in April sparked a huge search across Newcastle. Once the alarm was raised, officers trawled through CCTV from the council, shops, Newcastle University, bus companies, the metro and their own cameras.
The toddler found an hour and 45 minutes later following a major search around three miles away in Gosforth Central Park in north Newcastle. The toddler was found an hour and 45 minutes later following a major search around three miles away in Gosforth Central park, in north Newcastle.