Man admits ‘abduction’ of Clitheroe girl (15)

But Blackburn magistrates heard the concerned mum called in the police after reading a text message from him saying they should no t have sex again until she was 16 because he did not want to go to prison.

Adam Porter, formerly of Clitheroe but bailed to St James Street, Great Harwood, admitted detaining a child from lawful custody. He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report. Conditions of bail include a curfew between 9pm and 5am, not to associate with any child aged under 16, not to contact the girl or go within 100m of her home in Clitheroe.

Miss Catherine Allan (prosecuting) said the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, believed herself to be in love with Porter and was not co-operating with the police. He was on police bail in regard to other potential charges involving the same girl,

“He has been charged with abduction, but that has been with her consent,” said Miss Allan. “They went to the pictures together and that is the extent of this offence.”

Miss Allan said, at the conclusion of the case, the prosecution would be seeking a restraining order which would prevent Porter having any contact with the girl until after her 16th birthday.

Mr Graeme Parkinson (defending) said the purpose of the meeting at the cinema was for Porter to tell the girl they could not go on as they were.

“He told her they were going to have to nip it in the bud until she was old enough to make her own decisions,” said Mr Parkinson.

“They were together for two hours and went to the cinema because it was a public place and nothing untoward could happen. He accepts that because of the age difference nothing can come of their relationship in the short term,” said Mr Parkinson.

He said the charge was one of abduction but nobody, other than a legal person, would call it that.

“He hasn’t grabbed her, taken her away, locked her in a cellar or anything like that,” said Mr Parkinson. “She was not in any way kept or detained, but from a legal point of view he has committed the offence.”

Mr Parkinson said the girl was introduced to Porter by her mother and he had been invited to their home for tea and encouraged to spend time with her.

“It seems the mother has taken the view things have gone too far and has changed her stance,” said Mr Parkinson. “Perhaps it wasn’t the wisest thing to encourage the relationship in the first place.”