Man tried to hide girls from police

A 26-YEAR-OLD man who tried to hide two missing girls from the police has escaped jail after a judge accepted there was no sexual motive to his conduct.

James Seery, of Walkers Road, Limeside, was at a friend’s home in Withington with the girls, aged 12 and 13, who had been reported missing by their mothers

Seery had met them a few days previously and they had exchanged numbers and were text-messaging each other.

As the police knocked on the front door, Seery attempted to usher the girls out of another exit.

Alaric Bassano, prosecuting. said: “In a police interview the following day, the defendant said it was obvious that one of the girls had a crush on him. When asked about their relationship he said that they were friends.

“He said: ‘I wouldn’t even say a friend — she’s a pest’. He said that he thought she was 15 or 16 and that the other girl was 16.

“There were no sexual improprieties or sexual motivation.”

Keith Harrison, defending, said of Seery: “He works five days a week and has two children whom he sees at weekends.”

Seery admitted child abduction and was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and must pay £500 in cost costs.