THE parent of a Heysham schoolgirl who was 'abducted' secured justice this week.

Daniel Belsham, 36 who used his flat as doss house for schoolgirls, was jailed for ten months by a judge at Preston Crown Court.

One of the girls' parents went round to the flat and was told her daughter was not there. In fact the girl and her friend were hiding in an airing cupboard.

It was alleged that the girls had been given money, cigarettes and had played games including strip poker.

Morecambe man Belsham, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to two charges of child abduction relating to the girls aged 11 and 12 on October 2, 1998. He also admitted indecently assaulting an 11-year-old girl in a Morecambe shop on July 3, 1998 and indecent exposure on April 28 this year. In addition to the prison sentence he was placed on the sex offenders' register for ten years.

Miss Bernadette Baxter, prosecuting, told the court the two girls in the abduction charge had befriended Belsham in a park in the summer holidays.

They had also spent time at this flat when they skipped school or after school. One mum went to Belsham's flat and was told her daughter was not there. Another parent went round to the address and found the girls hiding in a back alley.

They admitted they had asked Belsham to say they were not there as they knew they would be in trouble.

Miss Baxter said the indecent assault took place on July 3 and involved and 11-year-old girl who had gone to a Morecambe shop for a bottle of milk.

Belsham put his arm around her and squeezed her. The girl went home and told her mother what had happened.

Counsel said the victims of the indecent exposure were a 10-year-old girl and her mother. Miss Sara Dodds, defending, said Belsham had already spent seven and a half months in custody. He was ashamed and humiliated at what he had done and knew he had to be punished.

Regarding the abduction offences, Belsham had been "unwise and foolish." The girls had gone to his home on a voluntary basis using the flat as a doss house to escape school.

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