Man abducted girl, 15, in 'immensely stupid' act

JAILED OVER ‘FRIENDSHIP' WITH ‘VULNERABLE CHILD'

- By RUCSANDRA MOLDOVEANU

A MAN has been jailed after abducting a 15-year-old girl in what was described as an “immensely stupid” act.

Tautvydas Balionis, 28, was sentenced for the offence of abducting a child from her parent or carer at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday.

The incident occurred between August 29 and September 1 last year, when the girl was found at his address in Victoria Road, Netherfield.

In August the same year, he stood trial at the same court for an alleged offence of sexual activity with the same child, who was then 15.

A sentencing hearing on Tuesday, was told that Balionis “reasonably believed” the girl was 16.

The case was dismissed and the man was found not guilty following a disclosure from the victim.

Just a week after the trial concluded on August 22, the girl went missing from her home address in Derbyshire.

On August 30, she left her mother's house, saying she was going to visit a friend but never returned.

The mother contacted the police, fearing her daughter was with Balionis. Officers went to his address and gained entry but no one was there.