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Newcastle Primark kidnap teenagers sentenced | Newcastle Primark kidnap teenagers sentenced |
(35 minutes later) | |
Two girls who kidnapped a toddler from a Primark store have been detained for three years and three months. | Two girls who kidnapped a toddler from a Primark store have been detained for three years and three months. |
The two-year-old was found an hour and 45 minutes later, after she was tracked via CCTV cameras to a park about three miles away from the Newcastle shop. | |
Sentencing the pair, aged 13 and 14, the judge at Newcastle Crown Court referred to internet searches on a tablet belonging to the younger girl. | Sentencing the pair, aged 13 and 14, the judge at Newcastle Crown Court referred to internet searches on a tablet belonging to the younger girl. |
These related to topics including children having sex, rape and slavery. | These related to topics including children having sex, rape and slavery. |
Mr Justice Globe said although the child came to "no actual harm", there had been intent, planning and enticement. | Mr Justice Globe said although the child came to "no actual harm", there had been intent, planning and enticement. |
See how the kidnapping unfolded | |
Just before the kidnap in April, the Tyneside teenagers had shoplifted dummies, baby milk and a bottle. They cannot be named because of their age. | |
The girls were initially charged with kidnap with the intention of committing a sexual offence but this was dropped after the prosecution accepted a plea to the alternative charge of kidnap. | The girls were initially charged with kidnap with the intention of committing a sexual offence but this was dropped after the prosecution accepted a plea to the alternative charge of kidnap. |
'Psychological harm' | 'Psychological harm' |
The judge said the two girls put forward different accounts of the incident, but neither had explained to his satisfaction what actually happened. | The judge said the two girls put forward different accounts of the incident, but neither had explained to his satisfaction what actually happened. |
He said their accounts "produce more questions than answers", and rejected the proposition they had taken the child "for no reason... with no specific intent". | He said their accounts "produce more questions than answers", and rejected the proposition they had taken the child "for no reason... with no specific intent". |
"I bear in mind no physical harm was caused," he said. | "I bear in mind no physical harm was caused," he said. |
"However, the extensive psychological harm to her mother was devastating. She won't let her daughter out of her sight and won't let her go to nursery." | |
He added it was clear some aspect of physical or sexual harm or exploitation would have been carried out if the toddler had not been rescued swiftly. | |
"It was the true reason as to why she was taken. Her [the mother's] fears are well founded," the judge said. | |
How events unfolded | |
16:30 - Child taken from Primark store in Northumberland Street | |
16:35 - Girls go to nearby Metro station and travel to Gosforth | |
16:55 - CCTV from store's exit identifies kidnappers, every police officer in Newcastle alerted | |
17:00 - Teenagers shoplift baby milk and bottle from Sainsbury's store in Gosforth | |
18:01 - The three are spotted at Gosforth Park, and the teenagers are arrested | |
Mr Justice Globe said the guidelines recommended a five-year sentence, but he deducted a third of this because the girls had pleaded guilty. | |
The initial sentences were three years and four months, but the judge later took off a month after hearing the teenagers had been subject to a curfew since their guilty plea in June. | The initial sentences were three years and four months, but the judge later took off a month after hearing the teenagers had been subject to a curfew since their guilty plea in June. |
He also refused to lift an anonymity order banning anyone from identifying them. | |
He said: "Anonymity is never an easy matter to resolve where there is an offence committed of public importance... Open justice is uppermost in my mind." | |
However, after taking the age of the two defendants though, he decided it must remain in place. |