A Sandown woman who continued contact with a child, despite being issued with a child abduction warning notice, has pleaded guilty to child abduction offences at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court.
Ruby Owen, 26, of Fitzroy Street, appeared before Magistrates on Tuesday and entered guilty pleas for 4 counts of detaining a child so as to keep him/her from a person having lawful control, contrary to the Child Abduction Act 1984.
The court heard that on 14th October this year, Owen was issued with a Child Abduction Warning Notice (CAWN) as a result of a child she had contact with being regarded as at risk. In recent years CAWNs have become a valuable tool in the fight against Child Sexual Exploitation and Child Criminal Exploitation.
Ann Smout, prosecuting, told the court that on 14th November a girl – who cannot be named for legal reasons – left her home and was told by her mother to return by 22:00 that night. However, she didn’t return home and were reported missing to Police shortly after.
Officers went to Owen’s address and found the child in the kitchen at her Fitzroy Street property.
The 25-year-old was interviewed by Police and admitted that her and the child had seen each other on 3 more occasions between 24th October and 11th November. Text messages and photos on Owen’s phone confirmed this, with 1 of the texts saying “make me a joint while you wait”.
Owen has a previous conviction for battery but nothing else of a like nature.
Defending, Barry Arnett said that Owens had met the girl a year ago through a friend and that they text each other regularly. He also added that Owen was concerned for the child’s safety after the pair ‘had a chat’. Arnett also said that it wouldn’t have been fair not to let the girl stand outside her door as it was cold and wet.
The case has been adjourned to allow a pre-sentence report to be compiled. Owen will next appear in court on 20th December.
My god there are some nutters lose in society.
Where, Why, When, Whom ?