A 33-YEAR-OLD man has appeared before magistrates charged in connection with the abduction of a six-year-old girl.

Imran Khan, of Pendle Street, Accrington, indicated not guilty pleas to allegations of intentionally causing or inciting a girl under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity, taking a child so as to remove her from the lawful custody of her mother and breaching a sexual offences prevention order when he appeared at Burnley Magistrates Court yesterday.

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Khan, who spoke only to confirm his name and address, is accused of taking the girl from Nairne Street, in Burnley, before dropping her off in Whitefield Street, Hapton, some time later on March 26.

A manhunt was launched after the alleged victim told police she had been taken from the street before being assaulted in a car.

There was an outburst in court as a member of the public stood up and shouted at Khan as he was being led away from the courtroom.

Prosecuting, Parveen Akhtar said: “These are serious offences. The case is of child abduction.”

The defendant, who wore a red T-shirt and grey tracksuit bottoms in the dock, was remanded into custody to appear before Burnley Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on April 23.

Imran Hussain, who defended Khan, said: “It is right to say that these allegation are of enormous seriousness. The only conceivable venue is to be the crown court.”