Teenager admits abduction attempt (From Warrington Guardian)

Teenager admits abduction attempt

A NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD Winsford man has admitted attempting to abduct a boy he had befriended.

Chester Crown Court heard on Monday that Andrew Neil Brocklebank tried to trick a teacher into letting an 11-year-old boy leave school with him on June 8 last year.

Stephen Everett, prosecuting, said the boy was at his school when Brocklebank turned up and spoke to his teacher.

Mr Everett said: "He told her that he was the boy's cousin, which is a lie, and that the boy's grandmother was ill - another lie.

"Despite close questioning, there was a fairly determined attempt to take the boy. The teachers attempted at length to get in contact with the boy's family to find out the truth of the claims.

"Mr Brocklebank then drove off with some speed when it became clear to him that the teachers had cottoned on to him."

Mr Everett said that when later interviewed, Brocklebank, of The Loont, told the police that a 12-year-old boy had put him up to it as a 'dare'.

Mr Everett added that the Crown did not accept that version of events.

Brocklebank denied two other charges of inciting sexual activity with two boys under the age of 16.

Mr Everett said there was no justification in taking these allegations to trial because he had admitted the more serious charge of attempted abduction.

Brocklebank will be sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Friday, February 11.

He was released on bail with the conditions that he does not contact prosecution witnesses and that he stay at his home and abides by a curfew.

His Honour Judge Roger Dutton said that the case was of a 'serious nature' but that Brocklebank's prompt guilty plea would be taken into consideration.