A MAN who befriended a 13-year-old girl after she repeatedly ran away from a care home has confessed to child abduction.

William Bridge, 39, insisted nothing had gone on between himself and the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, Burnley Crown Court was told.

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Bridge, of Commercial Street, Bacup, has now been offered help with his drinking problem after admitting to a child abduction offence.

He was given a 28-day prison sentence, suspended for two years, with probation supervision, on condition he attends an alcohol treatment programme.

Lisa Worsley, prosecuting, said the 13-year-old had ran away from a care home after arguing with staff and she was later spotted by a police officer outside Bridge’s home, drinking from a bottle of rosé wine.

The girl was taken into police custody and an officer spoke with Bridge, who told the constable she had said she was 15.

The officer informed him she was only 13, to which he seemed ‘genuinely surprised’.

About a month later the girl went missing again and PC Michael Woods visited Bridge.

The girl had been to Bridge’s home and was introduced to friends as his niece, the court heard.

He denied on the second occasion he had been told previously that she was 13.

Interviewed later by specialist officers, the girl said she had met Bridge by chance, after running away from the home, and they had met up in the street and twice at his house.

Bridge was quizzed by police and told officers the girl had given him a false name and said she was 16. He would have been prepared to let her sleep on his sofa, the court heard.

Keith Harrison, defending, said his client accepted he should have done more to rid himself of the attentions of the girl.

“There was no sexual motive,” added Mr Harrison, who also said that Bridge had suffered longstanding alcohol problems but still had the support of his family.

If Bridge was sent to prison he would be punished, said Mr Harrison, but it would not address his underlying difficulties.