Teenage girls on trial in North Tyneside charged with kidnapping two-year-old
Two teenage girls will go on trial today charged with kidnapping a two-year-old from a Primark store with the intention of committing a sexual offence.
The girls, aged 13 and 14 and from Tyneside, are also charged with shoplifting dummies, baby milk and a bottle. They also face a new alternative charge of kidnap.
The little girl was allegedly taken from the Primark in Newcastle's busy Northumberland Street in April.
She was found in a park in the suburb of Gosforth an hour and 45 minutes later.
The girls, who cannot be identified, will appear at a youth court hearing in North Tyneside.
They are both charged with kidnap "with the intention of committing a relevant sexual offence" contrary to the Sexual Offences Act of 2003.
They will also face an alternative charge of kidnap, this being without the sexual intent.
They also face two counts of theft from a shop - dummies from Boots and the milk and bottle from a Sainsbury's, all of an unknown value.
Their alleged victim cannot be identified by the media.
