Two schoolgirls who allegedly kidnapped a toddler with “intention to commit a sexual offence” appear in court today

The two schoolgirls face court today after being charged with kidnapping a toddler and “with the intention of committing a relevant sexual offence”

court room gavel

by Francesca Battson |
Published on

The girls, aged 13 and 14, have been accused of taking a two year old girl from a Primark store in Northumberland Street, Newcastle, in April this year.

The toddler went missing from Primark on the evening of Wednesday 13 April, triggering a citywide search.

When the alarm was raised, police officers checked CCTV from the council, shops, Newcastle University, bus companies, the Metro and their own cameras in search of the two year old girl.

Primark store
©Alamy

The toddler was found around three miles away almost two hours later in Gosforth Central Park.

Chief Inspector Dave Gould said at the time: “Thankfully the child was quickly located by officers and then reunited with her mother.

“I would like to thank all of those involved for their help in finding this little girl and helping reunite her with her mother.

“Our enquiries will now continue to establish the circumstances of what happened and speaking to the two teenage girls in custody regarding the incident.”

The two teenagers from Tyneside, also face charges of shoplifting dummies from Boots and baby milk and a bottle from Sainsbury’s.

baby dummies
©Alamy

The two girls previously appeared before South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court for a hearing lasting over 30 minutes last month.

At the hearing they were both charged with kidnap "with the intention of committing a relevant sexual offence" and were denied bail.

The schoolgirls were then ordered to be tagged and remanded into local authority care, to live and sleep at a specific address from 7pm till 7am.

No family members for either defendant or the toddler appeared in court.

The District Judge, Roger Elsey, told the teenagers they must not discuss the case on social media and must not enter Newcastle city centre.

The defendants and the alleged victim cannot be identified for legal reasons.

We will bring you more on this story as it comes.

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